Ocean Eddy off of Krait Bay, Australia

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Eddies form when a bend in the ocean current separates and makes a loop. In the Southern Hemisphere, cold water eddies rotate clockwise and warm water eddies rotate counterclockwise. The size of eddies and their rings vary as do their lifetimes—lasting between a month to over a year. Eddies are usually detected with ocean temperature and current instruments, but can also be detected by sight as in this image.

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