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Loop Current facts for kids

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Ocean currents 1943 Gulf Stream
A map from 1943 showing the Gulf Stream and other currents.

The Loop Current is like a giant, warm river of water in the Gulf of Mexico. It's actually part of the bigger Gulf Stream. This current flows north between Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula. Then, it makes a big loop, heading west and south, before leaving the Gulf through the Florida Straits to the east. It's a very important part of the ocean's circulation!

How the Loop Current Changes

For a while, scientists thought the Loop Current grew longer and moved further north every summer. They believed it had a yearly pattern. However, over the last few decades, more studies have shown this isn't quite right. The Loop Current doesn't really have a strong yearly cycle for how far north it reaches or when it forms smaller loops called "eddies."

Finding the Loop Current

Scientists can find the Loop Current and its eddies by measuring the height of the ocean's surface. On September 21, 2005, the water level over the Loop Current and its eddies was about 60 centimetres (24 in) higher than the water around them. This higher water level tells us there's a deep area of very warm water underneath them.

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