Description
| Abstract: | The Bay of Campeche is found to contain a semi-permanent cyclonic gyre. This contrasts with the western Gulf of Mexico north of 22°N latitude, which is dominated by transient anticyclonic eddies spawned from the Loop Current in the eastern Gulf. The cyclonic gyre's horizontal scale (of order 100 to 200 km) is smaller than that of the anticyclonic eddies in the northwestern Gulf and it is generally less energetic. Characteristics of the cyclone have been documented from systematic oceanographic surveys in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico carried out by the Mexican Government during the last two decades (commencing in 1970), supplemented by prior studies of Texas A&M University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The average volume transport in the Bay of Campeche cyclonic gyre is about 3.3 x 10^6 m^3s^-1, based on estimates from thirteen cruises conducted in different years but covering all four seasons. There is also evidence of a yearly cycle in transport which has a range comparable to the yearly average. Climatological wind stress information for the southwestern Gulf of Mexico suggests that the Bay of Campeche cyclonic gyre is forced by the cyclonic wind stress curl, which has a very pronounced seasonal cycle. |
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| Item Description: | Vita.
"Major subject: Oceanography." |
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| Physical Description: | xiii, 91 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm |
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| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |
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