Circulation Across 52w In The North Atlantic

The zonal circulation across the 52W meridian in the North Atlantic is described, as deduced from hydrographic and ADCP data. The data were collected in a 1997 cruise as part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, from the Grand Banks southeast of Newfoundland down to Suriname, South America (near 7 deg N, 53.5 deg W), and included shipboard and lowered ADCP (SADCP and LADCP) data along with hydro- graphic, nutrient, and CFC data. To analyze the circulation, first, geostrophic velocity shear was calculated using the hydrographic data. Next, an initial reference level ve- locity for each station pair was obtained by comparison of the geostrophic shear with the SADCP and LADCP data. Finally, an inverse calculation was applied, which con- served mass and silica within prescribed tolerance levels in 17 neutral density layers as well as overall. Because LADCP data were lacking over a crucial subset of stations in the northern Deep Western Boundary Current and throughout the Gulf Stream sys- tem, error bars on the final circulation are necessarily large. This result emphasizes the importance of collecting LADCP data concurrently with hydrographic data. Results will be presented in terms of velocity sections, transport streamfunctions, and total transports for major currents. Most surprising in the results is the strength of the deep circulation away from the boundary currents.