Loop Current

E54342

The Loop Current is a warm ocean current in the Gulf of Mexico that flows northward from the Caribbean, loops east and south, and then exits through the Florida Straits to feed the Gulf Stream.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf ocean current
warm current
affects climate of the Gulf Coast
marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico
ocean heat content in the Gulf of Mexico
associatedWith deep warm water layer in the Gulf of Mexico
strong surface currents in the eastern Gulf of Mexico
connectedTo Caribbean Sea
Florida Straits
contributesTo Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
countryCoastlineImpacted Cuba
Mexico
United States
drives transport of warm, salty Caribbean water into the Gulf of Mexico
exitsThrough Florida Straits
feeds Gulf Stream
flowsDirection eastward in the Gulf of Mexico
northward from the Caribbean Sea
southward in the eastern Gulf of Mexico
formsBoundaryWith colder surrounding Gulf waters
formsFeature Loop Current eddies
warm core rings
hasAlternateName Gulf of Mexico Loop Current
hasVariability interannual variability in position and strength
seasonal variability in extension
influences hurricane intensity in the Gulf of Mexico
oil spill transport in the Gulf of Mexico
sea surface temperature in the Gulf of Mexico
surface circulation patterns in the Gulf of Mexico
isKeyComponentOf Gulf Stream system
Gulf of Mexico circulation
locatedIn Gulf of Mexico
monitoredBy oceanographic buoys
satellite altimetry
sea surface temperature imagery
oceanBasin Atlantic Ocean
partOf North Atlantic subtropical gyre
region western North Atlantic Ocean system
relatedTo Agulhas Current
Kuroshio Current
riskFactorFor rapid intensification of tropical cyclones
sourceRegion Yucatán Channel inflow
studiedBy physical oceanographers
studiedFor climate variability research
hurricane forecasting
offshore engineering and operations planning
typicalFlowSpeed up to several knots at the surface
waterTemperature warm

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Florida Current
relatedTo

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