Gulf Currents

The clockwise flow that extends northward into the Gulf of Mexico and joins the Yucatan Current and the Florida Current is known as the Loop Current. Historically, average transport values for these three currents have been around 30 Sv (e.g. Morrison and Nowlin, 1977; Nowlin and McClellan, 1967; Schmitze and Richardson, 1968). Although recent measurements (Sheinbaum et al. 2002) contend that the mean transport is 24 Sv. Near-surface velocities approach 80 cm s^-1 in the Yucatan Current (Coats, 1992) and have been reported as high as 150 cm s^-1 (at 300 m) (Nowlin and McLellan, 1967). Additionally, the Yucatan and Florida current have been shown to be within 10% of each other's volume at any given time (Molinari and Morrison, 1988). Thus, variability in both the Loop and Yucatan currents would be expected to have a strong impact on the Florida Current as well. 

Gulf Currents,!!(:

The End....