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on the north flank of the far eastern outer ridge (Eittreim<br />

214<br />

and Ewi ng, 1972) whi ch shows greatly reduced 1 i ght scatter-<br />

ing in the nepheloid layer. However, it is possible that<br />

some of the easterly flow along the north flank has not<br />

reached this longitude, but has escaped to the south<br />

through interveITing depressions in the outer ridge.<br />

The zone of current shear whi ch shi fts N-S across the<br />

boundary between the north flank of the eastern Greater<br />

Antilles Outer Ridge and the Nares Abyssal Plain is also<br />

probably associated with preferential deposition, but rates<br />

of accumulation there would be reduced since the Western<br />

Boundary Undercurrent has already lost much of its suspended<br />

load when it reaches that area; the westerly-flowing AABW<br />

also contains very little suspended matter.<br />

There is probably little erosion of the fine-grained<br />

co h e s i ve sed i men t n n the G re ate r An till e s 0 ute r Rid g eat<br />

present, since maximum current speeds are only 15-20 cm/sec.<br />

Southard and others (1971) found that velocities of 15-20<br />

em/sec were necessary for incipient erosion of calcareous<br />

Ooze of 1 ess than 30 percent 1 uti te when the water content<br />

of the sediment approximated that found in the deep sea.<br />

Postma (1967, Fig. 1) noted that velocities greater than<br />

30 em/see would probably be necessary to erode sediment with<br />

a water content and grain size similar to those on the<br />

outer ridge.<br />

\ )<br />

.)

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