An Example of Gulf Stream Eddy-Induced Water Exchange in the Mid-Atlantic Bight
Open Access
- 1 May 1977
- journal article
- Published by American Meteorological Society in Journal of Physical Oceanography
- Vol. 7 (3) , 472-479
- https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1977)007<0472:aeogse>2.0.co;2
Abstract
Temperature and salinity data collected by USCGC Evergreen in August 1974 provide an interesting example of eddy-induced horizontal water exchange across the continental slope of the mid-Atlantic bight. A tongue of shelf water (MSW). defined by a salinity <34‰, extending seaward of the 100-fathom curve behind the eddy contained a measured volume of shelf water. The volume transport of MSW through this tongue was estimated. Assuming a typical eddy residence time of 3 months in the mid-Atlantic bight and an eddy frequency of 3 year−1, the annual offshore transport of MSW across the 100-fathom curve due to eddies is also estimated. This line of reasoning suggests that eddies may be responsible for an important portion of the mixing of shelf water with the slope water region in the mid-Atlantic bight. Abstract Temperature and salinity data collected by USCGC Evergreen in August 1974 provide an interesting example of eddy-induced horizontal water exchange across the continental slope of the mid-Atlantic bight. A tongue of shelf water (MSW). defined by a salinity <34‰, extending seaward of the 100-fathom curve behind the eddy contained a measured volume of shelf water. The volume transport of MSW through this tongue was estimated. Assuming a typical eddy residence time of 3 months in the mid-Atlantic bight and an eddy frequency of 3 year−1, the annual offshore transport of MSW across the 100-fathom curve due to eddies is also estimated. This line of reasoning suggests that eddies may be responsible for an important portion of the mixing of shelf water with the slope water region in the mid-Atlantic bight.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: