Paper 15 



ANTICYCLONIC GULF STREAM EDDIES 

 OFF tHE NORTHcASTERN UNITED STATES DURIMG 1976 



David Mizenko and J. Lockwood ChamberLin 



INTRODUCTION 



This report continues for a third year (1976) an analysis of the 

 movements of anticyclonic Gulf Stream eddies in the Slope Water 

 region off Ne^ England and the Middle Atlantic coasts. A report 

 on these eddies durinq 1974 and 1975 was prepared by Bisagni. A 

 general summary of information on the formation^ structure/' and 

 dynamics of anticyclonic eddies is available in his report.- and 

 is not included here. 



The information provided here on the eddies is basically the same 

 as that presented by Sisagni.' It aiffers in minor ways, as 

 described in the following sections, because of some differences 

 in our methodology and improvements in the primary information 

 available from satellites. 



Some additional information is also given, especially on the 

 I formation ana destruction of the individual eddies, the surface 

 boundaries of the eddies, and a zonal analysis which summarizes 

 information on the movements of the eddies relative to one 

 anot her. 



Methods of Analysis and Sources of Information on 

 &dd^ Surface e.gsitigns and Boundaries 



The positions and surface boundaries of the eddies, during 1976 

 (Figs. 15.1-15.7), were largely taken from Experimental Ocean 

 Frontal Analysis charts issued weekly by the U.S. Naval 

 Oceanographic Office. Additional information was obtained from 

 infrared imagery from the NOAA GOES 1 and 2 satellites, enhanced 



Atlantic Environmental Group, National Marine Fisheries 

 Service, NOAA, Na r raca nse 1 1 , RI 02882. 



'Bisagni, J. J. 1976. The oassage of anticyclonic Gulf Stream 

 eddies through Deepwater Dumpsite 106, 1974-1975. 

 Evaluation Report 76-1, 39 d. 



'■JOAA Diimpsite 



259 



