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9.7: Warm- and Cold-Core Rings

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    Warm- and Cold-Core Rings

    • Warm-core rings are rotating warm masses of water surrounded by colder water. Example: Warm water areas in the Sargasso Sea water surrounded by cool water (Figure 9.14).

    • Cold-core rings are cold masses of water surrounded by warmer water.

    Warm and cold core rings
    Figure 9.13. Warm- and cold- core rings are created by eddies in ocean currents (Northern Hemisphere).

    These spinning rings can last for years and serve as refuges for sea life (warm and cold water) and can influence storm development (such as intensifying or reducing hurricane intensity). Core rings typically have unique biological populations.

    Cold Core Rings in the North Atlantic Ocean
    Figure 9.14. Cold-core rings in the North Atlantic associated with the Gulf Stream current.

    This page titled 9.7: Warm- and Cold-Core Rings is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Miracosta Oceanography 101 (Miracosta)) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.