CALCULATION OF THE CURRENTS SPEED IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF SHIP SAFETY NAVIGATION
Keywords:
Gulf of Mexico, currents’ speed, salinity, temperature, safety navigation, control of vessel maneuverability, meteorological mapsAbstract
This work is devoted to the study of the circulation of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which is characterized by the influence of eddies and currents "Loop Current", which are characteristic of the gulf and significantly affect the maneuvering characteristics of the vessel. Geostrophic currents’ speed were calculated and maps of the spatial distribution of currents’ speed were constructed. The speed of currents was calculated in some areas of the bay, namely in its central, north-eastern and western parts.
In the absence of actual data on the currents in some areas of the bay, data from the analysis of the ship's demolition and its hydrological and hydrochemical elements were used in the calculations. Maps of the spatial distribution of temperature, salinity, sea water, and the spatial distribution of current velocities on sections in separate areas of the bay were constructed using the OCEAN DATA VIEW software product (Version 4.7.10 - 2017). The calculated speed of geostrophic currents can be used in ship management, as the results of calculations of the current velocity in the density field are similar to the scheme of the currents, which are constructed based on the data of the measured values of their speed and direction.
The current system of the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most complex in the world ocean and includes several separate currents. Each of them has its own characteristic direction and speed of water movement. Thus, current speeds in the center of the eastern part of the bay in the surface layer reach 100 cm/s. The speed of the current heading west through the Campeche bank, forming the northern periphery of the cyclonic gyre in the gulf, reaches 70 cm/s, and in some periods even more. In general, this area of the Gulf of Mexico is characterized by a complex system of currents, which undoubtedly affects the maneuverability and speed of the vessel, and also causes its lateral wear. Therefore, the Campache Bank is characterized by shipwrecks and difficult navigation conditions.
In the work, the influence of currents on the maneuvering characteristics of the vessel is also considered. Areas characterized by a large amount of data on shipwrecks have been identified.