On the transport of the gulf stream between cape hatteras and the grand banks

Abstract

Direct velocity observations from four locations in the Gulf Stream between Cape Hatteras and the Grand Banks are analysed to determine the baroclinic and barotropic transport of the Stream. Three of the sites are moored arrays where a method similar to that proposed by Hall and Bryden (1985, Geophysical Research Letters, 12, 203–206) and Hall (1986, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 16, 1814–1818) is used; the fourth is the Pegasus site of Halkin and Rossby (1985, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 15, 1439–1452). The baroclinic transport is found to change little from site to site while the barotropic changes substantially. Total transport reaches 150 Sv at 60°W and remains at that strength to 55°W, the farthest east that moored information is available. These results, augmented by additional information, are used to deduce a scheme for the total transport steamfunction in the western North Atlantic.