ON TRANSPORT OF FLORIDA CURRENT

This paper contains results from the first series of transport measurements made with free instrument techniques. The series consists of the equivalent of 50-60 transects across four sections of the current made over a period of about 3 years. Based on averages of our data, and a comparison of these averages with previous data, we submit 32 ± 3 × 106m3/sec as the steady-state volume transport of the Florida Current. Monthly or bi-monthly averages lie within this bound and are reproducible. The total fluctuation bound is ± 12 × 106m3/sec. We estimate tidal amptitudes of 3·5 ± 1 × 106m3/sec for each of M2, K2, O1 and 1·5 ±1 × 106m3/sec for S2, in excellent agreement with past analysis of potential measurements across the Key West-Havana cable. However, in contrast with some previous investigations, in particular with the past analysis of cable data, there is no evidence in our data for total transport fluctuations at non-tidal periods of amplitudes larger than 10% of the mean. © 1968.