Ocean Currents
Eddy formation in the Gulf Stream System
- Currents –no smooth curves or straight lines; will meander and sometimes close on themselves to form eddies.
- Eddies rotate and retain their characteristics for weeks or months.
- Eddies form at the surface or at depth and vary from tens to hundreds of kilometers in size
- Cyclonic eddies – counterclock- wise rotation and upwelling on northern hemisphere
- Anticyclonic eddies – clock- wise rotation and downwelling on northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere: reversed