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eas twa rd flow of NADW between 1500 and 3800 m wi th vari abl e<br />

fl ow at greater depths. A Swa 11 ow float at 5200 m in AAB W<br />

over the crest of the eastern s e c to r of the outer ri dge<br />

went east at 4 cm/sec; one at 5500 m on the south fl an k,<br />

a 1 so in AABW, went north at 2 cm/sec; and a thi rd at 4500 m<br />

in NADW on the north fl.ank went 3 cm/sec northeast. More<br />

recently, an eight-hour near-bottom current measurement at<br />

124<br />

5500 m in AABW on the far eastern section of the outer ridge<br />

(200471N lat., 61°561W long.) showed speeds up to 25 cm/sec<br />

to the southeast (Amos and Escowitz, 1971).<br />

CL early more data were needed to resol ve the modern<br />

pattern of abyssal circulation. Therefore we initiated a<br />

program of long-term near-bottom current measurements,<br />

closely spaced hydrographic stations, and bottom photography )<br />

on the Greater Anti 11 es Outer Ri dge early in 1971.<br />

METHODS<br />

Current Meters<br />

The current meters used were modified Geodyne Model 850,<br />

magnetic tape-recording instruments (McCullough and Tupper,<br />

1969), and they were set to sample currents every 30 minutes<br />

for periods up to six months. The meters were incorporated<br />

in a relatively short (~220 m) mooring package with an<br />

anchor, a flotation package and an acoustically triggered<br />

release.<br />

Current meters were set on the Greater Anti 11 es Outer<br />

Ridge during two periods (Table 6.1). The first setting,<br />

\.. ./'

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