Current Meter Observations on Particle Trap "C" Measured during the JGOFS North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE)

The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) seeks to understand
the processes that control the transfer of carbon and other
biologically active elements in the ocean. In addition, JGOFS
hopes to improve global-scale predictions of the ocean's response to
human-inducded climate change.

The North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE) was a multidisciplinary,
multinational pilot study of JGOFS, studying the spring phytoplankton
bloom in the North Atlantic and its associated biogeochemical
processes. It took place from April until July, 1989, on two cruises
of the RV Atlantis II and one cruise of the RV Endeavor. The stations
in the North Atlantic were located from 18N to 72N and from 8W to 47W.

An S4 current meter was afixed to particle trap C, which was deployed
at an initial position of 46 deg 22 min N and 17 deg 38 min W on 22
May 1989 at a depth of 160 m. The position of the mooring was
monitored by the ARGOS system satellites. Positions of the mooring
were given until 1 June 1989. Mooring velocities were determined from
the positions given by ARGOS. Relative current velocities were
measured by the S4 current meter. Absolute current velocities were
the sum of the mooring velocites and the relative current velocities.

The dataset includes the following values:
mooring velocity north (v-component) from ARGOS positions
mooring velocity east (u-component) from ARGOS positions
mooring speed from ARGOS positions
mooring direction from ARGOS positions
relative current north (v-component) from the S4 current meter
relative current east (u-component) from the S4 current meter
relative current speed from the S4 current meter
relative current direction from the S4 current meter
absolute current north (v-component) (relative + mooring)
absolute current east (u-component) (relative + mooring)
absolute current speed (relative + mooring)
absolute current direction (relative + mooring)

The data is public domain and can be retrieved on-line at
"http://usjgofs.whoi.edu/jg/dir/jgofs/"

[This summary was derived from Oceanus vol. 35 and from the JGOFS WWW
pages at WHOI.]