B. Martinezlopez et A. Paressierra, CIRCULATION IN THE GULF-OF-MEXICO INDUCED BY TIDES, WIND AND THE YUCATAN CURRENT, Ciencias marinas, 24(1), 1998, pp. 65-93
A three-dimensional model is used to study the circulation in the Gulf
of Mexico. Currents associated with tides, wind and the Yucatan Curre
nt are presented. Each one of these forcings is analyzed by itself and
as a combined effect of the three. We were able to closely reproduce
the circulation and elevation fields due to the tides. By forcing the
model with winds, an anticyclonic circulation is obtained in the weste
rn region of the gulf. This feature has been associated in other studi
es with the local wind forcing and with the anticyclonic gyres generat
ed in the eastern part of the gulf. Results of this work suggest that
the detachment of the gyres is mainly a baroclinic process. The contri
bution of the barotropic flux of the Yucatan Current is found to be re
stricted to the eastern part of the basin.