section_path: Hydrology
section_name: Hydrology
paragraph_text: Hydrology
  
  Circulation of water in and through the Gulf is part of the larger circulation patterns of the Atlantic Ocean. Water flows into the Gulf from the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatan Channel as the Yucatan Current, and exits to the North Atlanic Ocean through the Florida Straits as the Florida Current, which becomes the Gulf Stream. Movement through the two straits is confined to the upper layers of ocean water, as the Yucatan Strait has a maximum depth of only 1,800 metres (5,900 ft), while the Florida Straits has a maximum depth of only 900 metres (3,000 ft).: 14221
  
  The Yucatan Current fills most of the Yucatan Channel to a depth of up to 800 metres (2,600 ft), with a maximum flow of 120 centimetres (47 in) per second. There are weaker countercurrents along the coasts of Cuba and Yucatan and below the main current. The average volumetric flow rate through the Yucatan Channel varied between 15.8 and 28.1 Sverdrups (hectometers per second) from 1999 to 2013. The Florida Current fills all of the Florida Straits (at approximately 81°W, between the lower Florida Keys and Cuba) to a depth of 800 metres (2,600 ft), with a maximum flow of 110 centimetres (43 in) per second. The average volumetric flow rate through the Florida Straits varied between 27.2 and 27.9 Sverdrups.: 1382, 1388–1389
  
  The Yucatan Current is connected to the Florida Current by an anti-cyclonic (clockwise) loop of variable size, the Loop Current. The Loop Current may extend into the northeastern part of the Gulf, and may flow over the continental shelf along the west coast of the Florida peninsula. The Loop Current is as strong as the Gulf Stream and dominates the Gulf. Anti-cyclonic and cyclonic (anti-clockwise) rings or eddie's are shed from the Loop Current and move into the western Gulf. Cyclonic and anti-cyclonic eddies form pairs, and such pairs of eddie's often dominate circulation in the western Gulf.: 14221 : 2
  
  The Loop Current is up to 300 kilometres (190 mi) in diameter and is surrounded by small cyclonic (anti-clockwise) eddies. Large warm-core rings or eddies are shed off the Loop Current at irregular intervals. The Loop Current can be seen in satellite images using both sea surface temperatures and Sea surface height.: 2 On the east side of the Gulf, a weak countercurrent flows north along the continental slope of the Florida peninsula. In the Northeast corner of the Gulf there is a weak cyclonic circulation over the continental shelf. The strength of this circulation is inversely proportional to how far north the Loop Current extends.: 14234
  
  The Loop Current is part of the North Atlantic Gyre, a ocean current circulation that includes the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Current, Canary Current, and North Equatorial Current. The eddies shed by the Loop Current spread though the Gulf, affecting the circulation in almost all parts of the Gulf. The creation of the eddies is a variable and often complex process, influenced in part by how far the Loop Currents has penetrated into the Gulf. Eddies shed by the Loop Current sometimes reattach to the Loop Current. Eddies surrounding the Loop Current react interactively with it, affecting both the penetration of the loop into the Gulf, and the size and number of eddies shed by the loop.: 13–14
  
  Rings or eddies shed from the Loop Current may be up to 300 kilometres (190 mi) in diameter and 800 to 1,000 metres (2,600 to 3,300 ft) deep. The outer currents in the ring may flow at up to 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), while the rings as a whole move westward at about 0.20 knots (0.37 km/h; 0.23 mph).: 5
  
  The water flowing into the Gulf from the Caribbean Sea is not homogenous. About 40% is from the South Atlantic Ocean, and is warmer and fresher than the rest of the water. The South Atlantic component is distinguishable in the upper 100 metres (330 ft) of the left hand and central parts of the Florida Current. Another component in the deeper part of the current is Antarctic intermediate water. The rest of the water carried into the Gulf consists of various masses from the North Atlantic.: 15
  
  Circulation of water in and through the Gulf is part of the larger circulation patterns of the Atlantic Ocean. Water flows into the Gulf from the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatan Channel as the Yucatan Current, and exits to the North Atlanic Ocean through the Florida Straits as the Florida Current, which becomes the Gulf Stream. Movement through the two straits is confined to the upper layers of ocean water, as the Yucatan Strait has a maximum depth of only 1,800 metres (5,900 ft), while the Florida Straits has a maximum depth of only 900 metres (3,000 ft).: 14221
  
  The Yucatan Current fills most of the Yucatan Channel to a depth of up to 800 metres (2,600 ft), with a maximum flow of 120 centimetres (47 in) per second. There are weaker countercurrents along the coasts of Cuba and Yucatan and below the main current. The average volumetric flow rate through the Yucatan Channel varied between 15.8 and 28.1 Sverdrups (hectometers per second) from 1999 to 2013. The Florida Current fills all of the Florida Straits (at approximately 81°W, between the lower Florida Keys and Cuba) to a depth of 800 metres (2,600 ft), with a maximum flow of 110 centimetres (43 in) per second. The average volumetric flow rate through the Florida Straits varied between 27.2 and 27.9 Sverdrups.: 1382, 1388–1389
  
  The Yucatan Current is connected to the Florida Current by an anti-cyclonic (clockwise) loop of variable size, the Loop Current. The Loop Current may extend into the northeastern part of the Gulf, and may flow over the continental shelf along the west coast of the Florida peninsula. The Loop Current is as strong as the Gulf Stream and dominates the Gulf. Anti-cyclonic and cyclonic (anti-clockwise) rings or eddie's are shed from the Loop Current and move into the western Gulf. Cyclonic and anti-cyclonic eddies form pairs, and such pairs of eddie's often dominate circulation in the western Gulf.: 14221 : 2
  
  The Loop Current is up to 300 kilometres (190 mi) in diameter and is surrounded by small cyclonic (anti-clockwise) eddies. Large warm-core rings or eddies are shed off the Loop Current at irregular intervals. The Loop Current can be seen in satellite images using both sea surface temperatures and Sea surface height.: 2 On the east side of the Gulf, a weak countercurrent flows north along the continental slope of the Florida peninsula. In the Northeast corner of the Gulf there is a weak cyclonic circulation over the continental shelf. The strength of this circulation is inversely proportional to how far north the Loop Current extends.: 14234
  
  The Loop Current is part of the North Atlantic Gyre, a ocean current circulation that includes the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Current, Canary Current, and North Equatorial Current. The eddies shed by the Loop Current spread though the Gulf, affecting the circulation in almost all parts of the Gulf. The creation of the eddies is a variable and often complex process, influenced in part by how far the Loop Currents has penetrated into the Gulf. Eddies shed by the Loop Current sometimes reattach to the Loop Current. Eddies surrounding the Loop Current react interactively with it, affecting both the penetration of the loop into the Gulf, and the size and number of eddies shed by the loop.: 13–14
  
  Rings or eddies shed from the Loop Current may be up to 300 kilometres (190 mi) in diameter and 800 to 1,000 metres (2,600 to 3,300 ft) deep. The outer currents in the ring may flow at up to 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), while the rings as a whole move westward at about 0.20 knots (0.37 km/h; 0.23 mph).: 5
  
  The water flowing into the Gulf from the Caribbean Sea is not homogenous. About 40% is from the South Atlantic Ocean, and is warmer and fresher than the rest of the water. The South Atlantic component is distinguishable in the upper 100 metres (330 ft) of the left hand and central parts of the Florida Current. Another component in the deeper part of the current is Antarctic intermediate water. The rest of the water carried into the Gulf consists of various masses from the North Atlantic.: 15