Circulation in the gulf of mexico induced by tides, wind and the Yucatan current

Abstract

A three-dimensional model is used to study the circulation in the Gulf of Mexico. Currents associated with tides, wind and the Yucatan Current are presented. Each one of these forcings is analyzed by itself and as a combined effect of the three. We were able to closely reproduce the circulation and elevation fields due to the tides. By forcing the model with winds, an anticyclonic circulation is obtained in the western region of the gulf. This feature has been associated in other studies with the local wind forcing and with the anticyclonic gyres generated in the eastern part of the gulf. Results of this work suggest that the detachment of the gyres is mainly a baroclinic process. The contribution of the barotropic flux of the Yucatan Current is found to be restricted to the eastern part of the basin.