A circular movement of water, air, or other fluid, running counter to the main current and typically forming a small whirlpool. Eddies form when fast-moving fluid encounters obstacles or changes in channel shape.
From Old Norse 'iða' meaning 'whirlpool,' related to Old English 'ed-' meaning 'back' or 'again.' The term captures the circular, returning motion of water that seems to flow against itself.
The massive eddies in the Gulf Stream can be 100 miles across and contain as much energy as 100 hurricanes! Satellite images reveal these ocean eddies as swirling patterns that help mix nutrients and heat across entire ocean basins, making them crucial for marine ecosystems and global climate.
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