In this project, the Investigators will complete the processing, analysis, interpretation, and publication of data from a long term array of current meter moorings that was maintained at 26.5 degrees North for the 11 year period 1986 1997 in the western boundary system of the Atlantic Ocean. The overall focus will be on the nature and variability of deep recirculation, current structure and transport on interannual time scales in relation to large scale forcing changes such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Investigators will collaborate with NOAA scientists at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories. Specific objectives are to: 1 . Determine the mean transport structure east of the Bahamas, including the western boundary currents and deep recirculations extending to 600 km offshore 2. Investigate variability on interannual time scales and its relationship to basinwide wind forcing and changes in high latitude convective activity related to the NAO, 3. Improve estimates of the meridional ocean heat transport in the subtropical Atlantic and its annual and interannual variability using the current meter data along with Florida Current and interior XBT (EXpendable BathyThermograph) section data, and 4. Compare the current meter results with high resolution general circulation models.
