Current measurements in the Drake Passage

Abstract

As part of the Hudson 'TO Expedition, an array of 12 current meters was moored in the Drake Passage near longitude 68° W for 10 days in February, 1970. A hydrographic section was run across the passage at the beginning and end of the mooring period. The geostrophic currents using assumed levels of no motion gave results similar to past studies. The current meter records indicated that a minimum velocity is found in the middle of the water column and they also showed the presence of a semi-diurnal tidal component.

The best compromise between the current meter data and the hydrographic data is a variable level of no motion with a net transport qf 5 sverdrups toward the west, but because of lack of current meter data at the convergence zone, an unambiguous transport figure could not be determined.