Closing the transport budget of the Florida Straits

Abstract

Closing the mean mass budget of the Florida Straits is fundamental to understanding the source waters of the Gulf Stream and for constraining ocean simulations and forecasts in a region of complex topography. Existing transport time series of the inflow through Yucatan Channel and the outflow at 27°N yield a 9 Sv difference in the mean, which cannot be reconciled by the two minor inflows between. Here we present a synthesis of transport estimates from throughout the Florida Straits, using velocity data collected aboard the cruise ship Explorer of the Seas. Our transports form a consistent mass budget and conform with the northern outflow from the Straits of 32.1 ± 3.3 Sv, as measured continuously by cable. In particular, we find an average of 30.0 ± 5.3 Sv for the inflow to southern Florida Straits and estimate that Old Bahama Channel contributes less than an additional 2 Sv.