Straits of Florida Current Meter Time Series from 1989-1994

Straits of Florida current meter data collected from fixed platforms between April 1989 and November 1994. The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) gathered these measurements in support of the Southeast Florida and Caribbean Recruitment Program (SEFCAR). Data were processed by NODC into the F015 format, containing time series of ocean current vector components.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal patterns in east-west (u) and north-south (v) current vector components to model flow dynamics.
• Correlating water temperature and salinity data with current speed and direction for water mass characterization.
• Using sensor depth and bottom depth records to study vertical current shear and boundary layer processes.
• Investigating recruitment pathways by combining current direction data with biological sampling records.

Strengths

• Time series data reported at high-frequency 10-15 minute intervals.
• Multi-year coverage from 1989 to 1994, capturing seasonal and interannual variability.

Limitations

• Specific row count, column count, and geographic coordinates for each station are unknown.
• Data is over 30 years old, limiting applicability to present-day climate and circulation studies.
• Potential for instrument-specific noise or gaps in the time series is not detailed.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Accession 9600059.

Collection Method

Eulerian current measurements from meter moorings deployed at fixed points.

Time Range

1989-04-08 to 1994-11-21.

Freshness

Data collection ended on 1994-11-21; no updates are expected.

Geography

Straits of Florida.