Institution

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the flow recorded at current meter mooring A, where recorded
velocities were about 6 cm/sec to the west, and calculated
velocities were 1-2 cm/sec southeast. A reference surface
at the bottom woul d have gi ven closer agreement in thi s
case. A very di fferent si t uati on occurred in the case of
current meter E, which was bracketed by a pair of stations
on 12 February 1972. Dynamic calculations indicated a flow
to the west at 5 cm/sec which matched the current-meter
record, even though the westerly flow was only a transient
17 i
of six-day duration superimposed on a long-term southeasterly
current (see Fig. 6.12).
Recorded speeds at t~e other two moorings (B and D) were
double the calculated values, implying a reference level
above 3500 m, where our shallowest observations were made.
The highest speed calculated from hydrographic data was 6 cm/
sec to the northeast between ATLANTIS I I Stas. 1825 and 1826
at the northwest tip of the ridge (Section 1, Fig. 6.2),
where the current meter (F) that failed was located.
Current Evi dence from Bottom Photographs
More than 800 oriented bottom photographs were taken on
the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge to determine current effects
on the sediment, the nature of the sea-floor microrelief, and
to observe the activity of benthic organisms (see Chapter IV
and Appendi x I I). The photographs show evi dence of currents
similar to that recorded by the current meters, of a contour-
foll owi ng flow movi ng cl ockwi se around the outer ri dge