Statistics. 1  Tram and light rail systems operate in 388 cities across the world, 206 of which are in Europe; 2  Since 1985 120 light rail systems have opened; 3  Since 2000 78 systems have opened while 13 have closed. 4  15,618 km of track is in operation, with 850 km in construction and a further 2,350 km planned;
Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension the North Atlantic Drift, is a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and stretches to the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
The Gulf Stream begins upstream of Cape Hatteras, where the Florida Current ceases to follow the continental shelf. The position of the Stream as it leaves the coast changes throughout the year. In the fall, it shifts north, while in the winter and early spring it shifts south (Auer 1987; Kelly and Gille 1990; Frankignoul et al. 2001).