Institution

)
)
speeds of 2 cm/sec (the stall speed of the rotor) to 12 cm/
see for the first two months of the recordi ng peri od (Fi gs.
6.8,6.9). The flow then shifted to the south .for about
three weeks wi th speeds 1 ess than 7 cm/sec before turni ng
to the southeast at about the same speeds. The two current
meters, separated by a verti cal di stance of 185 meters,
showed virtually identical patterns of current direction and
speed. The major speed discrepancy, from February 7-27,
resulted from the rotor sticking on the lower current meter.
The southeasterly current was faster at the deeper meter
during the last part of the recording period.
A second pai r of current meters, al so at 15 m and 200 m
from the bottom (B in Fig. 6.1, Table 6.1), was moored a day
after the fi rst pai r, on the north fl ank of the Greater
Antilles Outer Ridge (Figs. 6.9,6.10). Both records show
ESE currents at speeds 2 to 10 cm/sec for the fi rst 5 weeks
al though the deeper meter recorded hi gher average speeds.
157
A 3600 counterclockwise shift in flow with greatly diminished
current speeds occurred duri ng the next two months. The
shallow meter failed in mid-April, but the deep one continued
until recovery on May 23, recording an ENE current up to
9 em/sec. As in the northern mooring, similar changes in
direction were recorded simultaneously by both meters, but
speed di fferences were sl i ghtly more pronounced, wi th the
lower current meter generally recording higher speeds.
The observed current pattern can be expl ai ned by two