Tidal and Sub-inertial Fluctuations in the Florida Current

Abstract

A 50-day time series was obtained from a current meter mooring in the Florida Current off Miami. The results agree with earlier observations regarding the significance of several-day oscillations in the Gulf Stream. The energy spectrum of the V component shows a pronounced peak at periods of 5?6 days with an amplitude of about 20 cm sec?1. Quantitatively the results are reminiscent of barotropic shelf waves, although definite conclusions about the occurrence of such waves require additional observations. Analysis of tidal fluctuations shows that 25% of the variance in the V component and 6% of the variance in the U component can be accounted for by the four major constituents, M2, S2, K1 and O1. The largest constituent in the V component is the O1 tide, whereas the K1 tide dominates in the U component. The results are in good agreement with earlier observations from the sea surface, indicating that the vertical structure of the tides is predominantly barotropic.