The Gulf Stream

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The Gulf Stream

• Gulf Stream is a western boundary current
• Important contributor to poleward heat transport
  the climate of Europe
• Also important as a trade route for animal
  migrations
• Early maps determined by dead reckoning

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Gulf Stream Eel Life Cycles
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Benjamin Franklins Map
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Dead Reckoning
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Sverdrups Map
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Richardson's Atlas
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Richardson's Atlas
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Surface Drifters
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Surface Drifter Climatology
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Western Boundary Currents

• WBCs are found in all subtropical gyres
• Gulf Stream, Brazil Current, Kurishio
• Creates asymmetric gyres
• WBCs have need to rub up to continent
• Again, a boundary layer

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Surface Currents from Altimetry
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Data Assimilation Animation
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Dynamic Height
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What causes WBCs??

• Need to understand vorticity...