On the Circulation In and Around the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract:

This is the initial volume in a comparatively wide-ranging review of present knowledge of the circulation processes in the Gulf of Mexico. Volume I is focused on the large-scale low-frequency deep-water current structures in the Gulf, and on identifying in a preliminary way interactions of these circulation patterns (typically referred to as the general circulation) with the flow regimes on continental shelves (typically referred to as coastal circulations). Volume II is primarily concerned with coastal circulations, including their remote forcing and considering shelf-estuarine interactions. This review will attempt to expose and synthesize the physical oceanographic idea and publication base for the Gulf, as an aid in becoming familiar with what has been done, and not, what is known, and not known. The audience envisioned would include scientists and engineers and students who are specialists in other fields, perhaps especially marine scientists in other disciplines, as well as members of the general public with a technical inclination, and could be used as a supplemental text. The results discussed and synthesized and critiqued could also be of interest to professional physical oceanographers. Read the whole abstract >

This book in PDF format:

Cover (pdf 39.0 KB)

Table of Contents (pdf 43.0 KB)

Abstract (pdf 48.0 KB)

Sea Surface Temperature Map for the Gulf of Mexico on 5 March 1998.
Temperatures (°C) are color-coded as indicated by the bar scale to the right. Names for various elements of the Loop Current and its Eddy Field, the major components of the general circulation of the Gulf of Mexico, are superimposed on a classical "necking-down" configuration, involving a large warm-core Loop Current Ring that will eventually detach and drift into the western Gulf (OLDER EDDY on the map). The smaller scale features that are also illustrated (frontal eddies and cyclones) play a role in the separation process. Some clouds (fuzzy patches with bits of white) have not been filtered out of this image (a 3-day average nominal).

Chapter 1: An Initial Survey

Chapter 2: General Circulation - Gulf of Mexico

Chapter 3: Shelf-Gulf Interactions - An Introduction

Chapter 4: Summary Remarks

Appendix A: A Literature Review - Primarily Deep Water

Appendix B: Reference List (pdf 278 KB)

Appendix C: Observations and Numerical Experiments

Appendix D: The Gulf of Mexico in the Atlantic and Global Oceans

Appendix E: Acknowledgements and Personnel Statement (pdf 47.0 KB)