RS34A:
Gulf of Mexico Loop Current and Eddies: Observations, Impacts, and Forecasts Posters


Session ID#: 28019

Session Description:
The Loop Current and related eddies (LCE) are significant oceanographic features in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). In 2015 historic Loop Current Eddy activity was observed including formation and separation of four strong eddies. Ocean researchers and users (e.g. energy, fishing, shipping) in the GOM experienced prolonged downtime due to the sudden, unusual LCE upturn and migration. Currents can surge to 5 knots in areas with little warning, impacting offshore activities, causing equipment failure, and reducing infrastructure lifetime. The LCEs are significant drivers of GOM dynamics and ecology. Many aspects of the LCE are not well understood including eddy formation and separation, deepwater currents, and biogeochemical processes including hydrocarbon degradation.

To promote cross-discipline exchange on the LCE, this session will gather scientists who observe, model, and analyze LCE activity and role in GOM environment. The session will invite discussion on applications of scientific understanding to operational strategies for GOM maritime users.

Topics include:

1. Understanding cause and behavior of the Loop Current, Eddies, and Cyclonic Eddies

2. Technologies: observations, computer modeling, and others related to understanding or mitigating LCEs

3. New Methods: data collection, observation, analysis, and prediction

4. LCE interaction with marine environment including ecology, processes, and hurricanes/storms.

Primary Chair:  Pak Leung, Shell Global Solutions (US), Inc., Houston, TX, United States and Loop Current & Eddies Alliance
Co-chairs:  Ruth Perry, Shell Exploration & Production Company, Upstream Americas, Houston, United States, Aimee Thurlow, Loop Current & Eddies Alliance, United States; Gate Premier Solutions, Chris Ordonez, DOF Subsea; Loop Current & Eddies Alliance and Loop Current & Eddies Alliance
Moderators:  Pak Leung, Shell Global Solutions (US), Inc., Houston, TX, United States, Ruth Perry, Shell Exploration & Production Company, Upstream Americas, Houston, United States, Aimee Thurlow, Loop Current & Eddies Alliance, United States, Chris Ordonez, DOF Subsea and Loop Current & Eddies Alliance
Student Paper Review Liaisons:  Aimee Thurlow, Loop Current & Eddies Alliance, United States, Chris Ordonez, DOF Subsea and Loop Current & Eddies Alliance
Index Terms:

1922 Forecasting [INFORMATICS]
4223 Descriptive and regional oceanography [OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL]
4262 Ocean observing systems [OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL]
4520 Eddies and mesoscale processes [OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICAL]
Cross-Topics:
  • ES - Ecology and Social Interactions
  • OM - Ocean Modeling
  • PS - Physical Oceanography: Mesoscale and Smaller

Abstracts Submitted to this Session:

Neha Sharma, Jill S Storie, Michael J Leber, Andrew E Gustafson and Heather M Zimmerle, Horizon Marine, Inc., Marion, MA, United States
Julio Candela1, Jose Ochoa2, Julio Sheinbaum3, Manuel Lopez4, Paula Perez-Brunius5, Miguel Costa Tenreiro1 and Enric Pallas Sanz6, (1)CICESE, Physical Oceanography, Ensenada, Mexico, (2)CICESE, Ensenada, Baja Calif, Mexico, (3)CICESE, Physical Oceanography, San Diego, CA, United States, (4)CICESE, San Diego, CA, United States, (5)Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education at Ensenada, Physical Oceanography, Ensenada, Mexico, (6)CICESE, Ensenada, Mexico
Luna Hiron, Lynn K Shay and Benjamin Jaimes de la Cruz, RSMAS/University of Miami, Department of Ocean Sciences, Miami, FL, United States
Patrick J Hogan, John C. Stennis Space Center, Oceanography, Stennis Space Center, MS, United States
Joseph Kuehl, University of Delaware, Mechanical Engineering Department, Newark, DE, United States and Vitalii Sheremet, University of Rhode Island Narragansett Bay, Physical Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, United States
Julio Sheinbaum1, Gabriela Athie1, Julio Candela1, Jose Ochoa1 and Angélica María Romero2, (1)CICESE, Physical Oceanography, Ensenada, Mexico, (2)Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Ensenada, Mexico
Thomas Meunier1, Enric Pallas Sanz2, Miguel Costa Tenreiro3, Jose Ochoa4, Angel Ruiz Angulo5, Esther Portela6, Simó Cusí1 and Xavier J Carton7, (1)Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Mexico, (2)CICESE, Ensenada, Mexico, (3)CICESE, Physical Oceanography, Ensenada, Mexico, (4)CICESE, Ensenada, Baja Calif, Mexico, (5)Centro de Ciencias de la Atmosfera, UNAM, Mexico D.F., Mexico, (6)Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Physical Oceanography, Ensenada, Mexico, (7)Laboratoire de Physique des Océans, Brest, France
Zulema D Garraffo1, Shastri Paturi1, James A Cummings2, Ilya Rivin1, Hae-Cheol Kim1 and Avichal Mehra3, (1)IMSG at NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC, College Park, MD, United States, (2)IMSG/SAIC at NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC, College Park, MD, United States, (3)NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC, College Park, MD, United States
A. D. Kirwan Jr, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States, Helga Huntley, University of Delaware, Newark, United States and Henry Chang, University of Delaware, Marine Science and Policy, Newark, DE, United States
Miguel Costa Tenreiro1, Julio Candela1, Enric Pallas Sanz2, Julio Sheinbaum3 and Jose Ochoa4, (1)CICESE, Physical Oceanography, Ensenada, Mexico, (2)CICESE, Ensenada, Mexico, (3)CICESE, Physical Oceanography, San Diego, CA, United States, (4)CICESE, Ensenada, Baja Calif, Mexico
Erick Raul Olvera-Prado, Eric Chassignet, Steven L Morey, Dmitry S Dukhovskoy and Alexandra Bozec, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Tallahassee, FL, United States
Beatriz Ixetl Garcia Gomez1, Thierry Penduff2, Bernard Barnier2, Jean-Marc Molines2 and Sally E Close1, (1)IGE, MEOM, Grenoble, France, (2)CNRS - IGE, MEOM, Grenoble, France
John Lodise, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States, Tamay Ozgokmen, University of Miami, FL, United States, Maristella Berta, ISMAR, CNR, La Spezia, Italy and Annalisa Griffa, ISMAR, CNR, Lerici, Italy

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