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A NEW METHOD OF TRACKING THE GULF STREAM 1
Author(s) -
Fuglister F. C.,
Voorhis A. D.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1965.10.suppl2.r115
Subject(s) - gulf stream , towing , current (fluid) , geology , ocean current , tracking (education) , oceanography , temperature gradient , geodesy , meteorology , environmental science , geography , marine engineering , psychology , pedagogy , engineering
It has been found possible to map the path of the Gulf Stream rapidly over long distances by towing a temperature sensor at a depth of 200 m. The strategy is to steer the ship along the 15C‐isotherm, which approximates the middle of the horizontal temperature gradient characteristic of the Gulf Stream at 200 m and represents a position close to the maximum surface current. Various positions of the stream as observed in the summer and fall of 1964 are discussed. Meanders were seen to shift toward the east with translational speeds of 5–6 cm/sec. It is suggested that the deep and bottom currents of the Gulf Stream must occasionally follow a path different from that of the surface current.