Eddy impacts on the Florida Current

The Gulf Stream in the Atlantic carries warm water northwards and forms both the return closure of the subtropical gyre as well as the upper limb of the meridional overturning circulation. In 2009-2011, we find that mesoscale eddies east of the Bahamas dominate the variability of the Gulf Stream in the Florida Straits--the Florida Current--even though the eddies and the Straits are separated by banks and islands spanning 150 km. The peak-to-trough amplitude of transport variations during this period was 15×106 m3s-1 for the FC, at timescales of 90 days to a year. From satellite observations, we show that the eddies impacting the Bahamas were larger amplitude in 2009-11 than previously, and appear to have squeezed through the gap between the islands, to impact the Florida Current. Furthermore, the response Gulf Stream is not confined to the Florida Straits, but from satellite data, appears to be meridionally coherent for nearly 1000 km. Since the Florida Current time series is a critical time series for the state of the oceans, this new eddy-source of variability needs careful consideration when attributing the variability of the Florida Current.; Correlation coefficient between the Antilles Current (northwards, east of the Bahamas) and sea surface height anomalies, at zero lag. Black contours indicate significance. Note the elevated band of correlation (red, though not significant) along the meridionally flowing Florida Current, west of the Bahamas.