Circulation in the Gulf of Mexico induced by tides, wind and the Yucatan Current

A three-dimensional model is used to study the circulation in the Gulf of Mexico. Currents associated with tides, wind and the Yucatan Current are presented. Each one of these forcings is analyzed by itself and as a combined effect of the three. We were able to closely reproduce the circulation and...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Martínez-López, B, Pares-Sierra, A
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:1998
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE BAJA CALIFORNIA
Repositorio:Ciencias Marinas
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:cienciasmarinas.com.mx:article/740
Acceso en línea:https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/740
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Gulf of Mexico
circulation
numerical model
tides
Golfo de México
circulación
modelación numérica
marea
Descripción
Sumario:A three-dimensional model is used to study the circulation in the Gulf of Mexico. Currents associated with tides, wind and the Yucatan Current are presented. Each one of these forcings is analyzed by itself and as a combined effect of the three. We were able to closely reproduce the circulation and elevation fields due to the tides. By forcing the model with winds, an anticyclonic circulation is obtained in the western region of the gulf. This feature has been associated in other studies with the local wind forcing and with the anticyclonic gyres generated in the eastern part of the gulf. Results of this work suggest that the detachment of the gyres is mainly a baroclinic process. The contribution of the barotropic flux of the Yucatan Current is found to be restricted to the eastern part of the basin.