What would be the immediate climatic effects of having a continent appear out of nowhere?

I am writing a story where a freak magical accident causes a fully-formed landmass to pop into existence like it was there all along.

For the purposes of this question, let's assume:

• the continent isn't very large, a bit smaller than Australia
• the continent appears shortly southwest of Cape of Good Hope, obstructing the Benguela Current (image)
• the continent magically replaces the water instead of displacing it
• the continent has a mature ecosystem, with a east-west mountain range that would obstruct natural winds
• the continent has an atmosphere & humidity level that matches its ecosystem
• this happens in a climate that is prior to the Industrial Revolution (no greenhouse gases or ozone damage)
• effects related to the crust & fault lines shall be handwaved

What would happen to local and global climates as the currents readjusted to the new landmass? Would there be unusual winds or storms forming; would the diverted water cause any flooding or tsunamis?

posted almost 8 years ago

System‭

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