Current and wind data collected during the summer of 1992 and the fall and winter of 1993–1994 are used to characterize near-bottom flow patterns at a study site in Hawk Channel southwest of Key West. Currents are dominated by along-channel motions with low-frequency reversals occurring over time scales of 2–3 weeks. A seaward deflection of along-channel flow is apparent in both records. Harmonic analysis indicates that tidal co-oscillations contribute 6–10% and 48–70% of the total variance of the along-channel and across-channel currents, respectively. Spectral analysis indicates a close coupling between along-channel wind stress and along-channel currents at periodicities of 2–3 days. A comparison of across-channel winds and across-channel currents suggests an inverse relationship indicating an upwind return flow of near-bottom currents.
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Date Issued
1997
Note
Language
Type
Genre
Extent
10 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
3331926
Additional Information
Current and wind data collected during the summer of 1992 and the fall and winter of 1993–1994 are used to characterize near-bottom flow patterns at a study site in Hawk Channel southwest of Key West. Currents are dominated by along-channel motions with low-frequency reversals occurring over time scales of 2–3 weeks. A seaward deflection of along-channel flow is apparent in both records. Harmonic analysis indicates that tidal co-oscillations contribute 6–10% and 48–70% of the total variance of the along-channel and across-channel currents, respectively. Spectral analysis indicates a close coupling between along-channel wind stress and along-channel currents at periodicities of 2–3 days. A comparison of across-channel winds and across-channel currents suggests an inverse relationship indicating an upwind return flow of near-bottom currents.
This manuscript is an author version with the final publication available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02784343 and may be cited as: Pitts, P. A. (1997). An investigation of tidal and nontidal current patterns in Western Hawk Channel, Florida Keys. Continental Shelf Research, 17(13), 1679-1687. doi:10.1016/S0278-4343(97)00025-3
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #1184.
Date Backup
1997
Date Text
1997
DOI
10.1016/S0278-4343(97)00025-3
Date Issued (EDTF)
1997
Extension
FAU
FAU
admin_unit="FAU01", ingest_id="ing11852", creator="creator:BCHANG", creation_date="2012-01-12 08:23:26", modified_by="super:FAUDIG", modification_date="2014-02-13 09:43:28"
IID
FADT3331926
Issuance
single unit
Organizations
Attributed name: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Person Preferred Name
Pitts, Patrick A.
creator
Physical Description
10 p.
Title Plain
An investigation of tidal and nontidal current patterns in Western Hawk Channel, Florida Keys
Origin Information
Elsevier B.V.
1997
single unit
Title
An investigation of tidal and nontidal current patterns in Western Hawk Channel, Florida Keys
Other Title Info
An investigation of tidal and nontidal current patterns in Western Hawk Channel, Florida Keys