Fluctuations in the Transport of the Florida Current at Periods Between Tidal and Two Weeks

Abstract

During an 83-day period in the spring and summer of 1974, 41 complete dropsonde transects were made across the Florida Current at a section just north of Bimini. The total transport through the section had a mean value of 33.3 × 10⁶ m³ s⁻¹, standard deviation of 2.6 × 10⁶ m³ s⁻¹, and minimum and maximum values at 27.6 and 38.2 × 10⁶ m³ s⁻¹, respectively. Fluctuations were observed with periods of from several days to two weeks. Three mechanisms are discussed to explain these fluctuations and their cross-stream structure: mass flow variations confined to the anticyclonic side of the straits, cross-stream meanders of the axis of the current and tidal responses.