A Look at Currents in the Gulf of Mexico in 1999 - 2000

Schaudt, Kenneth J.; Forristall, George Z.; Kantha, Lakshmi; Leben, R. R.; Choi, Jei-Kook; Black, Peter G.; Uhlhorn, Eric W.; Guinasso, Norman L.; Walpert, John N.; Kelly, F. J.; DiMarco, Steven F.; Wang, O.; Anderson, Steven P.; Coholan, Patrice D.

doi:10.4043/12996-ms

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…For additional details of the model and its skill, see Kantha (2005) and Kantha et al (2005). See also Choi et al (1995), Kantha et al (1999), Kantha and Clayson (2000) and Schaudt et al (2001).…”

Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 95%

Death of three Loop Current rings

Lipphardt¹,

Poje²,

Kirwan³

et al. 2008

J Mar Res

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The life cycle of large anticyclonic rings in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is widely described by pinch off from the Loop Current, migration across the Gulf and eventual spin down along the western slope. Extensive observational and modeling efforts provide a relatively consistent picture of rings pinching off from the Loop Current and of complex interaction between anticyclones and cyclones driven by bathymetry along the western and northwestern shelf. The observational record for Loop Current rings (LCRs) during the intermediate period of westward translation is less clear. A number of studies recognize distinct anomalies in LCR characteristics in deep water as the rings enter the western Gulf near 92-94W. These include abrupt changes in the geometry of observed drifter trajectories and derived eddy parameter fits as well as changes in both ring translation speeds and the estimated rate of ring decay. Such observations are consistent with intense interaction and mass exchange between the rings and other coherent mesoscale features known to be present in the western Gulf. We test the hypothesis that interactions with the ambient mesoscale field can lead to rapid loss of coherence of some LCRs well before they reach the 'eddy graveyard' in the western Gulf. We use the data-assimilating, eddyresolving numerical GOM model described by Kantha et al. (2005) to assess the fates of readily identified LCRs Fourchon, Juggernaut, and Millenium during the period July 1998 to August 2001. Lagrangian metrics, including relative dispersion of small drifter clusters seeded in the ring cores, analysis of evolving blobs seeded in the ring cores, and finite-scale Lyapunov exponents, are used to track model ring evolution. These metrics clearly show that interactions with existing mesoscale cyclones and anticyclones caused Fourchon and Juggernaut to break up near 92W on advective time scales. In addition, Millenium also experienced an intense deformation, stirring, and mixing episode near 92W. Blob studies showed that the core fluid of Millenium was ultimately dispersed over much of the western basin. Our results show that some LCRs may break up through interactions with existing western Gulf cyclones and anticyclones prior to reaching the western slope.

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Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 95%

Death of three Loop Current rings

Lipphardt¹,

Poje²,

Kirwan³

et al. 2008

J Mar Res

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show abstract

“…The state of the art, primitive equation CUPOM [ Kantha et al , 1999; Lopez and Kantha , 2000], which incorporates a data‐assimilation module capable of assimilating both in situ data and remotely sensed data, is used to generate the near surface current fields for the analysis. A regional version of CUPOM configured for the Gulf, with 24 vertical sigma levels and a horizontal resolution 1/12 degree, has been tested in both hindcast and nowcast/forecast modes extensively against proprietary data from the offshore oil industry and is often used in an operational manner by this industry [ Kantha et al , 1999; Schaudt et al , 2001].…”

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Chlorophyll dispersal by eddy‐eddy interactions in the Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2003

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[1] A Lagrangian analysis of the transport and dispersal of plumes observed in satellitederived ocean color images was conducted using a data-assimilating model of the Gulf of Mexico. The interaction between pervasive cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies in the Gulf generated advective paths that connect remote shelf regions. These paths aligned remarkably well with the plume events recorded with the chlorophyll-a ocean color product from SeaWiFS. Two such events were studied. In one event material was transported in a thin strip between the northern wall of the Loop Current and an adjacent cyclone, connecting the eastern Campheche shelf (off the Yucatan Peninsula) and South Florida shelves. The other event began off the Louisiana shelf break as a small plume traced by chlorophyll and then developed into a long and thin feature which meandered to the shelf break off the northern Yucatan Peninsula, moving between a large anticyclone and several adjacent cyclones. These results indicate that inter-eddy advection plays a crucial role in developing the ocean color patterns observed in the satellite ocean color data.

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“…8 • The current velocity at the mudline is not nil. It has not always been possible to get an accurate sea current profile.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

A Joint Industry Project To Assess Circulating Temperatures in Deepwater Wells

Ward¹,

Granberry

Campos

et al. 2003

SPE Drilling &Amp; Completion

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Drilling oil wells offshore in water depths exceeding 1000 m is not uncommon in many parts of the world. These conditions present a number of challenges for successfully drilling and completing these wells. A major challenge is predicting the temperature of various fluids, such as drilling muds and cements, when they are circulated or placed in the well and during static periods. What sounds like an easy task for the majority of land or offshore wells with shallow water depths turns out to be much more difficult for deepwater wells. This is particularly caused by inverse temperature gradients across the sea and convective thermal exchanges between the sea and the fluids in the riser and/or drillpipe.To better understand the phenomena involved, a series of temperature measurements was made as part of a joint industry project (JIP). The primary objective of these measurements was specifically to monitor the cooling effect of the sea by measuring the fluid temperature at the mudline depth. All temperature data were measured by a sensor deployed inside the bottomhole assembly (BHA) while circulating or drilling. Data were collected in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, and west Africa in an average water depth of 1200 m.A summary of the temperature measurements is presented, and comparison is also made with the predictions of a numerical simulator. Detailed interpretation of the data gathered pinpoints the importance of correctly accounting for the exact temperature profile in the sea as well as the velocity of sea currents vs. depth.

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A Look at Currents in the Gulf of Mexico in 1999 - 2000

Cited by 11 publications

References 8 publications

Death of three Loop Current rings

Death of three Loop Current rings

Chlorophyll dispersal by eddy‐eddy interactions in the Gulf of Mexico

A Joint Industry Project To Assess Circulating Temperatures in Deepwater Wells

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