A STUDY OF THE ANTILLES CURRENT USING MOORED CURRENT METER ARRAYS.
Abstract
Buoyed arrays of 'Richardson-type' current meters were emplaced and retrieved from a location at 25.5 degrees north latitude and 72.5 degrees west longitude. The locale is in a region of the Antilles Current approximately 225 nautical miles east of Eluthra in the Bahamas. Measurements were made during 25 June to 13 July, 1965 and again during 24 January to 8 February, 1966. Summer measurements were concentrated in the upper layers, and winter measurements were concentrated in the lower layers. Basic data consist of 50 second averages of current speed and directions taken every 10 minutes. Frequency distributions of speed and directions were prepared from these data. Hourly and daily averages were computed for all data showing time continuity. Measurements from the same depth levels on different moorings for the same time period show good correlation. The agreement from these comparison lends confidence that current data are valid. The hourly averages and daily averages show trends in speed and direction, particularly in the upper layers, which are related to baroclinic adjustment in the water down to about 2000 meters depth. Data at all depths show tidal period fluctuations. The mean current structure for summer and winter periods are deduced from the observations and show that during summer mass transport toward the Gulf Stream is sufficient to account for the downstream augmentation. Winter observations show a different pattern of flow which is convergent on the Bahama Bank.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0825564
Entities
People
- William E. Maloney
Organizations
- Naval Oceanographic Office