Observations of high speed deep currents in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Recent measurements in water depths of 2000 m in the vicinity of the Sigsbee Escarpment, south of New Orleans, show the presence of recurring high speed current episodes, some of which had velocities greater than 85 cm/s only 10 m above the local bottom. In the Gulf of Mexico, currents above about 1000 m are not locally coupled with the relatively depth‐independent currents in the deeper layers. Topographic Rossby waves, with periods of approximately 10 to 14 days, appear to control the dynamics of the lower water‐column.