Abyssal Boundary Current Studies Current Measurements North of the Falkland Plateau January 1986-1987

Abstract

Abstract : The data described in this report were collected in support of the program, Abyssal Boundary Current Studies. This program was designed to improve our understanding of the structure and variability of the deep western boundary currents and to estimate their transport of heat and mass. Some of these deep western boundary currents are formed by the northward flow of the Antarctic Bottom Water along the eastern margins of the southern continents and ridges. In particular these data are from the energetic flow of this Bottom Water entering the South Atlantic. The Weddell Sea is an important formation region for the Bottom Water, some of which flows north through the Georgia Basin and into the South Atlantic. Other portions of the newly formed bottom water may flow to the east of the ridge system containing the Falkland Plateau, Ewing Bank, Falkland Ridge, and the Islas Orcadas Rise. At the North-eastern corner of the ridge system the flow (if present) turns west along the ridge system and becomes part of the clock-wise deep circulation in the Argentina Basin.