The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident
The Loop Current (LC) system controls the connectivity between the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region and the Straits of Florida. The evolution of the LC and the shedding sequence of the LC anticyclonic ring (Eddy Franklin) were crucial for the fate of the hydrocarbons released during the Deepwate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/2/188 |
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| author | Yannis Androulidakis Vassiliki Kourafalou Matthieu Le Hénaff HeeSook Kang Nektaria Ntaganou |
| author_facet | Yannis Androulidakis Vassiliki Kourafalou Matthieu Le Hénaff HeeSook Kang Nektaria Ntaganou |
| author_sort | Yannis Androulidakis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Loop Current (LC) system controls the connectivity between the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region and the Straits of Florida. The evolution of the LC and the shedding sequence of the LC anticyclonic ring (Eddy Franklin) were crucial for the fate of the hydrocarbons released during the Deepwater Horizon (DwH) oil spill in 2010. In a previous study, we identified LC-related anticyclonic eddies in the southern GoM, named “Cuba anticyclones” (“CubANs”). Here, we investigate the relation between these eddies and LC evolution in 2010, focusing on the DwH period. We use high-resolution model results in tandem with observational data to describe the connection between the LC system evolution within the GoM (LC extensions, Eddy Franklin and LC Frontal Eddies—LCFEs) and the mesoscale dynamics within the Straits of Florida where CubANs propagate. Five periods of CubAN eddy activity were identified during the oil spill period, featuring different formation processes under a combination of local and regional conditions. Most of these cases are related to the retracted LC phases, when the major LC anticyclone (Eddy Franklin in 2010) is detached from the main body and CubAN eddy activity is most likely. However, two cases of CubAN eddy presence during elongated LC were detected, which led to the attenuation of the eastward flows of warm waters through the Straits (Florida Current; outflow), allowing the stronger supply of Caribbean waters through the Yucatan Channel into the Gulf (inflow), which contributed to short-term LC northward extensions. Oceanographic (LCFEs) and meteorological (wind-induced upwelling) conditions contributed to the release of CubANs from the main LC body, which, in tandem with other processes, contributed to the LC evolution during the DwH oil spill incident. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:43:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57c17efab018483b858a13204c213043 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:43:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-57c17efab018483b858a13204c2130432023-12-03T13:17:41ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-02-019218810.3390/jmse9020188The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon IncidentYannis Androulidakis0Vassiliki Kourafalou1Matthieu Le Hénaff2HeeSook Kang3Nektaria Ntaganou4Department of Ocean Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USADepartment of Ocean Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USACooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USADepartment of Ocean Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USADepartment of Ocean Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USAThe Loop Current (LC) system controls the connectivity between the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region and the Straits of Florida. The evolution of the LC and the shedding sequence of the LC anticyclonic ring (Eddy Franklin) were crucial for the fate of the hydrocarbons released during the Deepwater Horizon (DwH) oil spill in 2010. In a previous study, we identified LC-related anticyclonic eddies in the southern GoM, named “Cuba anticyclones” (“CubANs”). Here, we investigate the relation between these eddies and LC evolution in 2010, focusing on the DwH period. We use high-resolution model results in tandem with observational data to describe the connection between the LC system evolution within the GoM (LC extensions, Eddy Franklin and LC Frontal Eddies—LCFEs) and the mesoscale dynamics within the Straits of Florida where CubANs propagate. Five periods of CubAN eddy activity were identified during the oil spill period, featuring different formation processes under a combination of local and regional conditions. Most of these cases are related to the retracted LC phases, when the major LC anticyclone (Eddy Franklin in 2010) is detached from the main body and CubAN eddy activity is most likely. However, two cases of CubAN eddy presence during elongated LC were detected, which led to the attenuation of the eastward flows of warm waters through the Straits (Florida Current; outflow), allowing the stronger supply of Caribbean waters through the Yucatan Channel into the Gulf (inflow), which contributed to short-term LC northward extensions. Oceanographic (LCFEs) and meteorological (wind-induced upwelling) conditions contributed to the release of CubANs from the main LC body, which, in tandem with other processes, contributed to the LC evolution during the DwH oil spill incident.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/2/188Gulf of MexicoStraits of FloridahydrocarbonsHYCOMmesoscale activity |
| spellingShingle | Yannis Androulidakis Vassiliki Kourafalou Matthieu Le Hénaff HeeSook Kang Nektaria Ntaganou The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Gulf of Mexico Straits of Florida hydrocarbons HYCOM mesoscale activity |
| title | The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident |
| title_full | The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident |
| title_short | The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident |
| title_sort | role of mesoscale dynamics over northwestern cuba in the loop current evolution in 2010 during the deepwater horizon incident |
| topic | Gulf of Mexico Straits of Florida hydrocarbons HYCOM mesoscale activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/2/188 |
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