Abstract:

This dataset contains satellite-derived information on the spatial and temporal distribution of the probability frequency of mesoscale and submesoscale eddies at 500-m resolution in the Florida Straits and Eastern Gulf of Mexico regions. Eddies are identified based on MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) chlorophyll imagery (http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov; Map projected chlorophyll a concentration, level-2) using algorithms published in the literature. Included are the spatial distribution of the probability of occurrence of meso- and submesoscale features broken down by season; the position of the Loop Current in three of six transects running offshore from the mainland coast; the spatial and temporal probability distribution of eddies along those six transects; and a listing of the number of eddies identified with date and size information. This dataset supports the publication: Zhang, Y., Hu, C., Liu, Y., Weisberg, R. H., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2019). Submesoscale and Mesoscale Eddies in the Florida Straits: Observations from Satellite Ocean Color Measurements. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(22), 13262–13270. doi:10.1029/2019gl083999

Suggested Citation:

Yingjun Zhang; Chuanmin Hu. 2020. Dataset for: Submesoscale and Mesoscale Eddies in the Florida Straits: Observations from Satellite Ocean Color Measurements. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-adrz-4567

Publications:

Zhang, Y., Hu, C., Liu, Y., Weisberg, R. H., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2019). Submesoscale and Mesoscale Eddies in the Florida Straits: Observations from Satellite Ocean Color Measurements. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(22), 13262–13270. doi:10.1029/2019gl083999

Purpose:

The systematic documentation of mesoscale and submesoscale eddies in the southeast Gulf of Mexico between 2002 and 2018 using MODIS satellite chlorophyll measurements.

Data Parameters and Units:

The file eddy_number_size.xlsx contains two worksheets: date and eddy number have parameters Julian date [YYYY-DDD] and eddy number (number of eddies observed on that date); eddy size contains a listing of the radius [m] of each identified eddy on that date (rows correspond across the two worksheets). The file transect_information.docx lists the initial and terminate latitude and longitude of each of the six transects identified in the cited paper. Units are decimal degrees. The time_series directory contains time vs. space data of eddy occurrence probability for the six transects. The data are in Matlab format, with matrices of size [Mx190], with units of distance from the 30m isobath [km] and months. The seasonal_distribution directory contains eight Matlab format files detailing latitude [decimal degrees], longitude [decimal degrees], and the spatial distribution of eddy occurrence probability for mesoscale and submesoscale eddies by season [0-100]. The fields are [881x1101].

Methods:

For detail methods, please refer to the associated publication, Zhang et al., 2019.

Individual Files: