Evaluation of Flow Features Responsible for Extreme Events at a Potential Ocean Current Energy Extraction Location within the Gulf Stream

Energy dense offshore ocean currents can be found off the east coast of most continents, with time average energy
densities exceeding 3 kW/m^3 in top locations. The entirety of the open-ocean current based electricity production
potential available to the continental U.S. can be found off the southeast U.S. coastline, with the most energy dense
areas found off Florida’s and North Carolina’s east coasts. Prior studies provide detailed statistics related to ocean
current speed, direction, and energy density at several discrete locations and map some of these statistics as a function
of horizontal location and/or depth. However, they do not provide a good understanding of the flow features associated
with the extreme current events identified within these data sets and therefore do not provide a strong basis for
forecasting extreme events. Using bottom mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data, this study first
identifies extreme ocean current events (5 strongest and 5 weakest currents) that have affected a proposed ocean current
energy production site over the past 15 years. Concentrating on the Florida Straits and the Gulf of Mexico, additional
data types are used to map and quantify flow features associated with these extreme events. Key features include the
propagation of eddies, edges of the Gulf Stream, and path of the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current. Understanding these
features' progression will ultimately lead to a better understanding of extreme events, enabling the correlation between
flow features and their impact on the ocean current resource, helping lay the foundation for extreme ocean current
event prediction.