Shelf Circulation in the Gulf of Mexico.
Abstract
Meteorological observations from an array of stations deployed along the periphery of the Gulf of Mexico between 1990 and 1993, are used to describe the seasonal fluctuations in patterns of atmospheric variables from a contemporary set of measurements. Seasonal maps of wind stress based on these measurements resemble wind stress maps based on ship observations, as published by Elliot (1979), rather than maps based on analyses of numerical weather forecasts, as published by Rhodes et a. (1989), particularly near the western boundary of the Gulf. Seasonal maps of wind stress curl are characterized by positive curls over the western and southwestern Gulf. The central result of this study is to document the important role of the mountain chain which extends along the southwestern section of the Gulf in channeling the wind towards the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 03, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA311201
Entities
People
- Clinton D. Winant
- Guillermo G. Velasco
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography