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Florida current volume transports from voltage measurements
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 18, 1985
Summary
The Florida Current
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Geophysics
Background:
- The Florida Current is a significant western boundary current.
- Accurate measurement of its volume transport is crucial for understanding ocean circulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the volume transport of the Florida Current using electromagnetic induction.
- To calibrate voltage measurements against direct velocity profiling.
Main Methods:
- Measuring motionally induced voltage differences between Florida and Grand Bahama Island.
- Simultaneous volume transport measurements using velocity profiling.
Main Results:
- A high correlation (0.97) was found between voltage and transport measurements.
- The calibration factor is 25 ± 0.7 Sv/V with a root-mean-square discrepancy of 0.7 Sv.
- Induced voltage is approximately half the open-circuit value.
Conclusions:
- Electromagnetic voltage measurements provide a reliable method for determining Florida Current volume transport.
- The electrical conductance of the seafloor is comparable to that of the water column.
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