Work still to be done as part of this investigation involves extending the NLOM-based reanalysis of remotely-sensed data in order to compare
NBC ring formation rates based on observations during the North Brazil
Current Rings Experiment (http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/nbc).
The reanalysis is complete through 1999.
Additionally, more in depth analysis of the the modeled NBC rings and warm
eddies is yet to be performed. The 3-D structure of the rings will be
examined in order to quantify the per-ring mass transport. Following that
the fraction of annual MOC transport attributable
to NBC rings can be ascertained.
Only a simple census of different types of warm rings in the NBC region was
presented here. More work is required to ultimately determine the origin
of those eddies that clearly were not produced by the NBC. Also, the fate
of these features needs to be examined in order to accurately assess their
impact on the northward transport of the Atlantic MOC.
A comparison of NBC rings pinched from the NBC retroflection with rings emanating from the NBC when it is not retroflecting and the NECC is weak will also be performed.