Canals-Silander, Miguel F.

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    On the three-dimensional structure of Caribbean mesoscale eddies
    (2005) Canals-Silander, Miguel F.; López-Díaz, José M.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Corredor, Jorge; Morell, Julio; Aponte, Nilda E.; Department of Marine Sciences; Ramirez, Wilson
    The three-dimensional structure of three Caribbean mesoscale features: a cyclone, an anticyclone and an eddy pair, was studied using a combination of in situ and satellite data. The formation and development, hydrography and velocity structure of each feature is studied separately and the results are then compared. Maximum swirl speeds ranged from 30-60 cm/s and their propagation speeds were 6-12 cm/s. Two of the features, the anticyclone and the eddy pair showed a coherent vertical structure of 1000 meters or more. The vertical structure of the cyclone seemed to be limited to the upper 700 meters of the water column. Thermohaline staircases are found to be more abundant and better defined in the edges of the eddies as compared to their cores. The formation of these eddies is suggested to be the result of vorticity advected through passages into the Caribbean. Their path into the Caribbean Sea was inferred from SSHA data. The early stages of two of the features entered the Caribbean through the Anegada passage while the third apparently entered through the St. Vincent passage. These features then intensified while they propagated across the Caribbean. It is suggested that the sill depth of the passage through which they enter the Caribbean may be a factor in determining their three-dimensional structure, particularly their vertical extent.