also: れいすいか
noun
cold eddy
Oceanographic term for a rotating body of cold water that detaches from a main cold current, often bringing nutrient-rich water.
黒潮から冷水渦が切離して南に移動した。
A cold eddy detached from the Kuroshio Current and moved southward.
Standard kanji spelling for this oceanographic term.
Alternate reading れいすいか is listed but is less common; れいすいうず is the usual reading.
暖水渦 is a warm eddy, the opposite of 冷水渦.
Compound of 冷水 (cold water) and 渦 (eddy, whirlpool).