3.2.4 Case study: particle confluence near the Yucatan Peninsula
This section analyzes connectivity with the nearshore area in the Mexican Caribbean defined by zone 2. Before reaching zone 2, the released particles are strongly influenced by the persistent cLCS in zone 4, off the coast of Honduras and Nicaragua (Figure 9). These prominent cLCS tend to attract trajectories as seen by most particle density maxima within the CS interior, yet effectively block onshore transport keeping zone 3 isolated as seen through persistent particle density minima (Figures 5 and 6). An exception occurs with 2% windage when particles are released in March and September (Figure 6b). SOMs with 1% and 2% windage have more trajectories reaching the coast but also have several instances where the cLCS redirect transport northeastward (Figure 7). Thus, the cLCS in zone 4 effectively attracts particles and redirects them northward. Further north, next to the coast of Mexico (north of about 18.5N), the Yucatan Current creates a strong transport barrier that persists year-round along the Mexican coast between ~18oN to 21oN (Figure 9). However, the maximum attraction has variations in intensity and spatial coverage. During May and December, the barrier may be less protective than in other months, and September is the only month in which the cLCS from zone 2 connect with the cLCS from zone 4, suggesting a direct path towards the GoM.