Lagrangian studies of fluid exchange between the Gulf Stream and surrounding waters

Abstract

Sixty-one of the 75 RAFOS float trajectories in the 13°-16°C layers have been analyzed from both a Lagrangian and Eulerian point of view. The results reconfirm the strong baroclinic structure of the Gulf Stream established earlier and reveal enhanced cross-stream motion with increasing depth and over the New England Seamounts. Float trajectories tend to be more convoluted east of the seamounts reflecting the large amplitude meandering in that region. The lateral exchange of fluid between the current and surrounding waters has been grouped into three major categories: ring formation, ring-stream interaction, and meandering. -from Authors