Distribution and Movement of Cyclonic Gulf Stream Rings.
Abstract
A study of the general distribution and movement of cyclonic Gulf Stream rings was made by analysing 50,000 temperature records obtained from the National Oceanographic Data Center and Fleet Numerical Weather Central. The data were taken from 1970 through 1973 in the region bounded by 20-40 N and 50-80 W. Additional ring observations from other sources were also used. Twelve ring time-series, together with fifteen single ring observations were obtained; approximately eleven rings were found to exist at one time. They typically moved westward, turned southwest when close to the Gulf Stream and appeared to coalesce with the Stream near Florida. On the average, about one and a half rings a year moved down this path, with a mean speed of three km a day and an estimated life span of two to three years. Although rings were concentrated in the northwestern Sargasso Sea, a few were found east of 60 W. However, the low data density in the eastern region prevented detailed analysis there. Several warm eddies, with at least a 150-meter deepening of the main thermocline, were also found. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA036334
Entities
People
- David Y. Lai
- Philip L. Richardson
Organizations
- University of Rhode Island