Warm core ring

A warm core ring is a type of mesoscale eddy which forms and breaks off from an ocean current, such as the Gulf Stream or the Kuroshio Current. The ring is an independent circulatory system of warm water that can persist for several months before losing its distinctive identity.^[1] Warm core rings can be detected using infrared satellites or sea height anomalies resulting from and are easily identifiable against the surrounding colder waters. In addition, warm core rings are also distinguished by their low levels of biological activity. This type of system is thought to have helped develop several hurricanes, most notably Hurricane Katrina, into significantly stronger storms due to the abundance of warmer ocean water reaching down to a significant depth,^[2] which in turn fuels and intensifies the hurricane. Warm core rings are also known for affecting wildlife, having the capacity to bring wildlife from typically warm waters to areas typically dominated by cold waters.