Cyclonic Eddies in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Res. Triangle Inst., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA J (Journal-Article) M (Marine) Cold-domed cyclonic eddies juxtaposed to the cyclonic shear side of the Gulf Loop Current are observed in simultaneously obtained hydrographic, current meter mooring, and satellite infrared data. The cyclones are initially observed in the satellite data as cold perturbations on the northern extreme of the current and grow either into a cold tongue or a quasi-stable meander off the Dry Tortugas, Florida. Areal shipboard surveys show closed isopleths of temperature and salinity, and surface geostrophic current speeds relative to 1000 db are in excess of 100 cm s super(-1). The diameter of the cold domes varied from 80 to 120 km Ocean Technology, Policy and Non Living Resources (Q2) Atlantic-Southwest (ASW) 1015538 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record 184 of 1156 - ASFA 1978-1987