How Much Does the Gulf Actually Contribute to the Gulf Stream? 

The Gulf Stream is a narrow ribbon of high-velocity, warm water that flows northward along the east coast of North America, meandering through gaps along the continental shelf before exiting into the Atlantic near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Despite its name, very little water from the Gulf contributes to the Gulf Stream. To demonstrate the Gulf’s contributions, an experiment was performed using NASA’s Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean 2 (ECCO2) model. The model combines simulated circulation with observed global ocean datasets. 

In the experiment visualized here, the Gulf (from surface to a depth of about 3,000 meters) was filled with 115,000 virtual particles, allowing them to move with the ocean’s 3-dimensional velocity field. Researchers tracked their paths and counted those that made their way into the Gulf stream. As water flows along the continental shelf, coherent eddies with diameters from 100 to 300 kilometers form and separate from the main currents. These are called Gulf Stream rings — and act to stir the current’s flow, decreasing temperature gradients across the stream. In the Gulf, particle temperatures are usually higher than 20°C and salinities are higher than 36 salinity units. 

Combining particle tracking experiments with ocean circulation models provides researchers with a way to investigate how and where certain tracers (such as environmental contaminants) can spread, improving response strategies to environmental emergencies, like oil spills. 


For more information: 
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5394/ 

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