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Transport driven by eddy momentum fluxes in the Gulf Stream Extension region
Author(s) -
Greatbatch R. J.,
Zhai X.,
Claus M.,
Czeschel L.,
Rath W.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2010gl045473
Subject(s) - gulf stream , ocean gyre , oceanography , geology , ocean current , momentum (technical analysis) , climatology , eddy , environmental science , meteorology , geography , subtropics , turbulence , finance , economics , fishery , biology
The importance of the Gulf Stream Extension region in climate and seasonal prediction research is being increasingly recognised. Here we use satellite‐derived eddy momentum fluxes to drive a shallow water model for the North Atlantic Ocean that includes the realistic ocean bottom topography. The results show that the eddy momentum fluxes can drive significant transport, sufficient to explain the observed increase in transport of the Gulf Stream following its separation from the coast at Cape Hatteras, as well as the observed recirculation gyres. The model also captures recirculating gyres seen in the mean sea surface height field within the North Atlantic Current system east of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, including a representation of the Mann Eddy.