Characterizing the western boundary current front between the Florida current and the littoral waters at 26°N latitude

Six survey missions of one day duration were preformed at 26°N latitude off the coast of south Florida in order to examine the characteristics of the Florida Current front on the coastal side of the current. Observations were made from the R/V Stephan using a conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) package and an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), corresponding meteorological observations were recorded by NOAA C-MAN stations at Fowey Rocks and Lake Worth Florida. The six survey missions were preformed over an 8-month period of March 2002 to October 2002. The data collected confirms observations made by previous theoretical studies, which used dynamical models of the Florida Current. The overall picture is of a turbulent cyclonic front with strong vertical shearing and vertical mixing. In addition, the data suggest internal wave generation and intermittent episodes of upwelling that appear to be related to the position of the current and the steepness of the front.