Figure E-2. Initial reported positions of eddies in this study. 



Symbols indicate the source(s) of e act) eddy report, numbers indicate 

 sequence of formation. 



predominantly westward drift. 

 The present study shows similar 

 results because of the 21 eddies 

 showing westward drift, 1 2 

 interacted with the North Atlantic 

 Current (NAC) during their life 

 spans. Of the three that drifted 

 east, one showed no interaction 

 with the parent current. 

 Interactions with the NAC then 

 could not have caused the net 

 eastward drift of the eddies. 



Eddy Size 



The eddies varied in shape 

 from roughly circular to elongated 

 ellipses and many had irregular 

 circumferences. To estimate the 

 average size, all eddies were 

 assumed to be of circular form of 

 diameter equal to the average of 

 the major and minor axes. The 

 mean characteristics are shown in 

 Table E-1. 



Comparison of Eddy 

 Characteristics in Two 

 Areas 



The following discussion 

 centers on whether or not the 

 area of formation had any effect 

 on eddy characteristics. 



The duration of eddies 

 over the Seamounts ranged from 

 six to 1 1 5 days with an average 

 duration of 46 days. The same 

 statistics for the 34 eddies formed 

 near the Ridge show a range of 

 two to 21 8 days with an average 

 of 41 days. These figures 

 indicate that the area of formation 

 has no significant effect on the 



S7U 56 SS 54 S3 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39U 



38 



37 

 36N 



52N 



tsi 



50 



49 



.. 48 



. . 47 



..46 



.45 



44 



.. 43 

 ..42 

 •■41 

 ..40 

 .39 

 •38 

 ■■37 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 

 57W 56 55 54 53 52 SI 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 



39U 



36N 



life span of the eddy. In general, 

 eddies in this area have a shorter 

 life span than the two to three 

 year spans reported by Joyce 

 (1984), Richardson (1980) and 

 Richardson (1983) in other areas 

 of the GuH Stream system. 



The area of the 

 Seanx)unts showed eddy activity 

 63% of the time; the Ridge, 69% 

 of the time. Both areas have 

 equal potential for eddy activity. 



The areas of formation 

 shows no apparent affect on the 

 migration of the eddy through the 

 area. The eddies that formed 

 over the Seannounts showed a 

 westward migration in six of 

 twelve eddies while five showed 

 no significant migration. The 

 remaining eddy showed eastward 

 migration. Those formed in 

 conjunction with the Ridge 

 topography showed westward 

 migration in 1 6 of 34 eddies and 



81 



