I am trying to understand the possible steering of the ridge in the Atlantic. Looking at the western Atlantic WV loop:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/watl-wv-loop.html

it seems to my untrained eye, that as it pushes in, it will discourage the northern turn of Ivan. If I look at the GOM loop:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/gmex-wv-loop.html

it seems as the western ridge is larger and more powerful.

But, the northwest Atlantic loop is the easiest to visualize (since it shows both high pressure systems), but still isn't great as Ivan isnt showing up yet:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/nwatl-wv-loop.html

What I see every time I look at these is the two ridges converging and narrowing the trough. But, it looks like the trough is being pushed more from the Atlantic ridge than it is being affected by the western ridge (watch the southern tip of Florida as the loop progresses). Am I seeing things, or doesn't it look like the trough will be further west than expected?