# Eddies and suction pools

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddies-and-suction-pools/166602>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 5, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddies-and-suction-pools/166602 "2003-04-05T01:15:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Akuma\_No\_Jikan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Akuma\_No\_Jikan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akuma_No_Jikan)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddies-and-suction-pools/166602/1 "2003-04-05T01:15:34Z")

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In one of my not so interesting classes today we got on the subject of ocean eddies. For those who don’t know, they’re formed when warm water get trapped in a body of cold water, and vice versa. Now, I was curious if suction pools, or, whirlpools are formed by this same process, such as the ones in the english channel, the sort than can suck large objects under water. If they’re not formed by this proccess, how are they formed ?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddies-and-suction-pools/166602/2 "2003-04-05T01:20:08Z")

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[Oceanic whirlpools.](http://www.navis.gr/meteo/whirlpoo.htm)

> [@](#):
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> Whirlpools at sea are caused by the meeting of opposing currents and tides, by ocean currents striking offshore rocks and other coastal configurations, and by the force of wind acting upon water. Irregularities in basin and channel bottoms usually cause whirlpools in rivers and lakes.