The Gulf Stream — A Distinct Ocean Color Front 

 May 1979 



The CZCS pigment image on 3 May (51-1) shows the Gulf Stream 

 System off the U.S. East Coast. Attention is directed to the very sharp 

 distinction in ocean color of the slope waters (light tones) from that of the 

 main body of the Gulf Stream (dark tones). This distinction in ocean color 

 is due to augmentation of phytoplankton growth associated with the 

 geostrophic flow of the Gulf Stream proper (49-1). 



As discussed before, the density fields of large ocean currents such as the 

 Gulf Stream are baroclinic analogues of upwelling and represent the 

 largest and perhaps the most important mechanism for vertical transport 

 of nutrients in the oceans. The CZCS pigment image shows how easily 

 Gulf Stream meanders and eddies (warm-core rings) can be located 

 through the use of remote sensing of ocean color by earth-orbiting 

 satellites. 



50 



