Western Boundary Time Series

Introduction

This project consists of two components to monitor the western boundary currents in the subtropical Atlantic: the Florida Current transport measurements using a submarine telephone cable plus calibration cruises and the Deep Western Boundary Current transport and property measurements using dedicated research ship time and moorings.

Florida Current Transport Time Series and Cruises

The Florida Current transports are collected two ways: measuring the voltage difference across the Straits of Florida using submerged submarine telephone cables; and via small-boat dropsonde/XBT cruises research vessel LADCP/CTD cruises. The cable measurements provide daily transports - which have been measured nearly continuously since 1982. The sections provide both calibration information for the transport estimates from the submarine cable and observations of changes in water properties within the Florida Current over time. Go

Deep Western Boundary Current Hydrography

Two hydrographic cruises per year across the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) area, east of Abaco Island, to measure water mass properties and transports. Tracers sampling, as chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and carbon dioxide, are also present in many sections. Go

Deep Western Boundary Current Transport Time Series

A monitoring system for the Deep Western Boundary Current using inverted echo sounders, bottom pressure gauges, and one deep current meter was deployed in September 2004. In May 2005 this line was extended to capture also the northward flow of the Antilles Current. Go