Re: August 1, 2010; 2009; 2008
Posted by JAC on 1/1/2011, 11:03 pm
Sure Bobbi.

These images are Sea Surface Heights (SSH) on a given date for years 2010, 2009, and 2008.

I could have included further years in the past, but it pretty much says the same thing.

SSH's are measured by altimeters on the satellites: JASON-1, JASON-2, and TOPEX / POSEIDON.  

SSH gives an indication of how hot the water is and the deep of the hot water.

Remember hot water expands.  

So, when trying to ID a warm current in a colder ocean, SSH is an excellent method to do so.

Here is a good explanation by NASA.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/view.php?id=36962


2010 is showing a much lower overall SSH associated with the loop-current than previous years.

Also, by late December, Sea-Surface-Temps (SSTs) are much lower in the GOM and the Gulf Stream this year than in the last two years.

In fact, I looked back about 15 years and the same thing, SST's are much lower for the GOM and Gulf Stream than anytime in the last 15 years for end of December.




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