Leatherback Turtles in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico: Foraging and Migration Behavior During the Autumn and Winter

We deployed 19 satellite tags on foraging adult leatherback turtles, including 17 females and 2 males, captured in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico in 2015, 2018, and 2019 in order to study regional distribution and movements. Prior to our study, limited data were available from leatherbacks foraging in the Gulf of Mexico. Tag deployment durations ranged from 63 to 247 days and turtles exhibited three distinct behavior types: foraging, transiting, or rapidly switching between foraging and transiting. Some females were tracked to nesting beaches in the Caribbean. Most of the leatherbacks remained on and foraged along the west Florida continental shelf whereas a few individuals foraged in waters of the central Gulf of Mexico during the autumn and winter. In addition, migration of adult females through the Yucatan Channel indicate that this is a seasonally important area for Caribbean nesting assemblages.

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Influence of frontal cyclone evolution on the 2009 (Ekman) and 2010 (Franklin) Loop Current eddy detachment events

Ocean Science ◽

10.5194/os-10-947-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 947-965 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Y. S. Androulidakis ◽

V. H. Kourafalou ◽

M. Le Hénaff

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulation ◽

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Satellite Data ◽

Potential Vorticity ◽

In Situ Measurements ◽

Loop Current ◽

Positive Potential ◽

Eastern Gulf Of Mexico ◽

And Migration

Abstract. The anticyclonic Loop Current Eddy (LCE) shedding events are strongly associated with the evolution of Loop Current Frontal Eddies (LCFEs) over the eastern Gulf of Mexico (GoM). A numerical simulation, in tandem with in situ measurements and satellite data, was used to investigate the Loop Current (LC) evolution and the surrounding LCFE formation, structure, growth and migration during the Eddy Ekman and Eddy Franklin shedding events in the summers of 2009 and 2010, respectively. During both events, northern GoM LCFEs appeared vertically coherent to at least 1500 m in temperature observations. They propagated towards the base of the LC, where, together with the migration of Campeche Bank (southwest GoM shelf) eddies from south of the LC, contributed to its "necking-down". Growth of Campeche Bank LCFEs involved in Eddy Franklin was partially attributed to Campeche Bank waters following upwelling events. Slope processes associated with such upwelling included offshore exports of high positive potential vorticity that may trigger cyclone formation and growth. The advection and growth of LCFEs, originating from the northern and southern GoM, and their interaction with the LC over the LCE detachment area favor shedding conditions and may contribute to the final separation of the LCE.

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Deep Cyclonic Circulation in the Gulf of Mexico

Journal of Physical Oceanography ◽

10.1175/jpo2790.1 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 35 (10) ◽

pp. 1801-1812 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Christopher J. DeHaan ◽

Wilton Sturges

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Accurate Result ◽

Sea Water ◽

Cyclonic Circulation ◽

Loop Current ◽

Mean Flow ◽

Eastern Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Geostrophic Shear ◽

Layer Flow ◽

Yucatan Channel

Abstract The anticyclonic Loop Current dominates the upper-layer flow in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with a weaker mean anticyclonic pattern in the western gulf. There are reasons, however, to suspect that the deep mean flow should actually be cyclonic. Topographic wave rectification and vortex stretching contribute to this cyclonic tendency, as will the supply of cold incoming deep water at the edges of the basin. The authors find that the deep mean flow is cyclonic both in the eastern and western gulf, with speeds on the order of 1–2 cm s−1 at 2000 m. Historical current-meter mooring data, as well as profiling autonomous Lagrangian circulation explorer (PALACE) floats (at 900 m), suggest that vertical geostrophic shear relative to 1000 m gives a surprisingly accurate result in the interior of the basin. The temperature around the edges of the basin at 2000 m is coldest near the Yucatan Channel, where Caribbean Sea water is colder by ∼0.1°C. The temperature increases steadily with distance in the counterclockwise direction from the Yucatan, consistent with a deep mean cyclonic boundary flow.

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Influence of frontal cyclones evolution on the 2009 (Ekman) and 2010 (Franklin) Loop Current Eddy detachment events

Ocean Science Discussions ◽

10.5194/osd-11-1949-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1949-1994 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y. S. Androulidakis ◽

V. H. Kourafalou ◽

M. Le Hénaff

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulation ◽

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Satellite Data ◽

In Situ Measurements ◽

Loop Current ◽

Positive Vorticity ◽

Eastern Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Temperature Observations ◽

And Migration

Abstract. The anticyclonic Loop Current Eddy (LCE) shedding events are strongly associated with the evolution of Loop Current Frontal Eddies (LCFEs) over the eastern Gulf of Mexico (GoM). A numerical simulation, in tandem with in situ measurements and satellite data, was used to investigate the Loop Current (LC) evolution and the surrounding LCFEs formation, structure, growth and migration during the Eddy Ekman and Eddy Franklin shedding events in the summers of 2009 and 2010, respectively. During both events, Northern GoM LCFEs appeared vertically coherent to at least 1500 m in temperature observations. They propagated towards the base of the LC where, together with the migration of Campeche Bank eddies from south of the LC, contributed to its "necking down". Growth of Campeche Bank LCFEs involved in Eddy Franklin was partially attributed to Campeche Bank waters following upwelling events. Slope processes associated with such upwelling include offshore exports of high positive vorticity that may trigger cyclone formation and growth. The advection and growth of LCFEs, originating from the northern and southern GoM, and their interaction with the LC over the LCE detachment area favor shedding conditions and may lead to the final separation of the LCE.

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