The separation of the Yucatan Current from the Campeche Bank and the intrusion of the Loop Current into the Gulf of Mexico

Data collected in the eastern Gulf of Mexico during 1974, 1975, and 1976 show that the penetration of the Loop Current into the gulf is strongly correlated with the location of the Yucatan Current on the Campeche Bank. The Loop does not penetrate far into the gulf when the Yucatan Current separates from the bank in the vicinity of the Catoche Tongue (i.e., the eastern Campeche Bank). Deep Loop penetrations are correlated with separations farther west on the bank. The angle of the Yucatan Current at separation is also correlated with the location of separation (i.e., smaller angles relative to due east are correlated with separations from farther east on the bank). Thus small angles at separation are correlated with shallow intrusions of the Loop. Historical temperature data collected in the eastern gulf are reviewed and support these correlations. Simple conservation of potential vorticity considerations can explain the correlation between the angle at separation and the penetration of the Loop.