Departures from geostrophy in the Gulf stream

Abstract

Non-geostrophic velocities produced by horizontal gradients of Reynolds stresses have been calculated from observed surface data in the Florida Current region of the Gulf Stream. It was found that the departure from geostrophy is characteristically about ten per cent of the mean velocity.An examination of surface velocity data also shows that horizontal gradients in the Reynolds stresses can produce a transverse velocity in the Florida Straits off Miami. The velocity profile of the non-geostrophic transverse component has the same sign and approximately the same magnitude as the observed transverse surface velocity.