THE GULF OF MEXICO ECOSYSTEM: A COASTAL AND MARINE ATLAS
Data Quality
Synthesis and Conclusions
This map has good data quality for surface currents (<1000 meters deep) because it is based on a complete geographic illustration of the Gulf-wide, broadscale oceanographic currents that dominate this large marine ecosystem. Ocean circulation is complex and varies with depth. This map is not intended to represent mesoscale patterns of deep ocean circulation driven by thermohaline (temperature and salinity) forces, which are often quite different from the forces that drive surface current patterns.
The Loop Current and its influence dominate sea surface currents and influence biological production in the Gulf. Wind, river inputs and deep-water circulation also influence sea surface currents. Understanding sea surface currents helps ships save fuel, informs fisheries management and assists in weather and pollutant dispersal prediction. Substantial oil development in the Gulf makes studying currents in this region a key priority.
Text Citations Bonjean, F., & Lagerloef, G. S. E. (2002). Diagnostic model and analysis of the surface currents in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 32, 2938-2954. Johnson, D. R. (2008). Ocean surface climatology in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Retrieved from www. usm.edu/gcrl/user_files/Donald.Johnson.NGOM.currents.pdf Roberts, J. J., Best, B. D., Dunn, D. C., Treml, E. A., & Halpin, P. N. (2010). Marine geospatial ecology tools: An integrated framework for ecological geoprocessing with ArcGIS, Python, R, MATLAB, and C++. Environmental Modelling & Software, 25, 1197-1207. Sturges, W., & Leben, R. R. (2000). Frequency of ring separations for the loop current in the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 30, 1814-1819. Â Sturges, W., & Lugo-Fernandez, A. (Eds.). (2005). Circulation in the Gulf of Mexico: over most of the Gulf observations and models, Geophysical Monograph Series. Washington, DC: AGU. Map Data Sources Bonjean, F., & Lagerloef, G. S. E. (2002). Diagnostic model and analysis of the surface currents in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 32, 2938â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2954. Ocean Conservancy. (2012, February 3). Climatological velocity and directional mean (July-September), Ocean Surface Current Analyses-Real Time (OSCAR), 1993-2011. Esri shapefile based on PMEL, 2012 using Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools. Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). (2012). World ocean surface currents, Ocean Surface Current Analyses - Real Time (OSCAR), 1993-2011. Seattle, WA: Author. Retrieved January 20, 2012, from http://www.oscar.noaa.gov Roberts, J. J., Best, B. D., Dunn, D. C., Treml, E. A., & Halpin, P. N. (2010). Marine geospatial ecology tools: An integrated framework for ecological geoprocessing with ArcGIS, Python, R, MATLAB, and C++. Environmental Modelling & Software, 25, 1197-1207. MAP 6 (next page). SEA SURFACE CURRENTS
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