Florida Current

The Florida Current has an estimated mean transport of 30 Sv,{{Cite journal|title=On the transport of the Florida current |language=en|doi=10.1016/0011-7471(68)90081-8|volume=15|issue=6 |journal=Deep Sea Research and Oceanographic Abstracts|pages=679–693 | last1 = Schmitz | first1 = William J.|date=1968-12-01|bibcode=1968DSRA...15..679S }}{{Cite journal|last1=Leaman|first1=Kevin D.|last2=Molinari|first2=Robert L.|last3=Vertes|first3=Peter S.|date=1987-05-01|title=Structure and Variability of the Florida Current at 27°N: April 1982–July 1984|journal=Journal of Physical Oceanography|volume=17|issue=5|pages=565–583|doi=10.1175/1520-0485(1987)017<0565:SAVOTF>2.0.CO;2|issn=0022-3670|bibcode=1987JPO....17..565L|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Schott|first1=Friedrich A.|last2=Lee|first2=Thomas N.|last3=Zantopp|first3=Rainer|date=1988-09-01|title=Variability of Structure and Transport of the Florida Current in the Period Range of Days to Seasonal|journal=Journal of Physical Oceanography|volume=18|issue=9|pages=1209–1230|doi=10.1175/1520-0485(1988)018<1209:VOSATO>2.0.CO;2|issn=0022-3670|bibcode=1988JPO....18.1209S|doi-access=free}} varying seasonally and interannually by as much as 10 Sv. The volume transport increases as it flows farther north, reaching its maximum transport of 85 Sv near Cape Hatteras.{{Cite book|title=Kuroshio, its Physical Aspects|last1=Worthington|last2=Kawai|publisher=University of Tokyo Press|year=1972|editor-last=Stommel|location=Tokyo|pages=371–385|chapter=Comparisons between deep sections across the Kuroshio and the Florida Current and Gulf Stream|editor-last2=Yoshida}} The water reaches a velocity of {{convert|1.8|m/s|knots}}.

The seasonal variation of the Florida Current is relatively understudied. Seasonal variability in transports and eddies has been more intensely studied in the nearby Gulf Stream.{{cite journal |last1=Fu |first1=L. |title=Seasonal variability of the Gulf Stream from satellite altimetry |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research |date=1987 |volume=92 |issue=C1|page=749 |doi=10.1029/JC092iC01p00749 |bibcode=1987JGR....92..749F }}{{cite journal |last1=Zhai |first1=X. |title=On the seasonal variability of eddy kinetic energy in the Gulf Stream region |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |date=2008 |volume=35 |issue=24|doi=10.1029/2008GL036412 |bibcode=2008GeoRL..3524609Z }}{{cite journal |last1=Rossby |first1=T. |title=On the variability of Gulf Stream transport from seasonal to decadal timescales. |journal=Journal of Marine Research |date=2010 |volume=68 |issue=3–4 |page=503|doi=10.1357/002224010794657128 }} Past research indicates The Florida current reaches a maximum transport in July and a minimum transport in October, with a subsequent secondary maximum and minimum occurring in January and April, respectively.{{Cite journal|last=Montgomery|first=R|date=1938|title=Fluctuations in the monthly sea level on the eastern U.S. Coast as related to dynamics of the western North Atlantic Ocean|journal=Journal of Marine Research|volume=1|pages=32–37|doi=10.1357/002224038806440584}} Shorter variations in the transport may last between 2 and 20 days depending on wind current patterns, and are shortest during the summer months.{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=T|last2=Williams|first2=E|date=1988|title=Wind-forced transport fluctuations of the Florida Current|journal=Journal of Physical Oceanography|volume=18|issue=7|pages=937–946|doi=10.1175/1520-0485(1988)018<0937:wftfot>2.0.co;2|url=https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1214&context=gsofacpubs|doi-access=free|bibcode=1988JPO....18..937L}} Therefore, the effects of the seasonal variability of the Florida Current on the wider reaching Gulf Stream is unknown. Wind speed, wind direction, topography, and temperature are important factors in determining current strength. Seasonal variation of weather in the South Florida region can help predict seasonal variability of current strength and transport. Stronger winds and higher temperatures lead to increased current flow due to the increase of the energy added into the system. Inversely, less wind speed and colder temperatures slow down currents and transport is typically lower. However, the Florida Current is formed in the Gulf of Mexico by the Yucatán Current and Gulf of Mexico Loop Current{{cite web |title=The Florida Current is a strong oceanic current flowing northward along the eastern coast of Florida carrying warm tropical waters that eventually feed the Gulf Stream |url=https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/ocean/flcurrent.html |website=floridakeys.noaa.gov |publisher=NOAA |access-date=8 November 2022}} and is important to monitor to determine flux in seasonal variations at the formation of the current.

Like transport, the spatial magnitude of the current increases along its course. At 27°N, it has a width of {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}}; it gradually increases from {{convert|120|km|abbr=on}} at 29°N to {{convert|145|km|abbr=on}} where it flows into the Gulf Stream at 73°W.{{Cite journal|last1=Leaman|first1=K|last2=Johns|first2=E|last3=Rossby|first3=T|date=1989|title=The average distribution of volume transport and Potential Vorticity with temperature at three sections across the Gulf Stream|journal=Journal of Physical Oceanography|volume=19|issue=1|pages=36–51|doi=10.1175/1520-0485(1989)019<0036:TADOVT>2.0.CO;2|bibcode=1989JPO....19...36L|url=https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1214&context=gsofacpubs|doi-access=free}}

• Ocean current
• Oceanic gyre
• Physical oceanography

• [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/floridacurrent/ Florida Current Transport Time Series and Cruises]; Western Boundary Time Series
• Joanna Gyory et al. [http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atlantic/florida.html The Florida Current]; University of Miami

{{Ocean}}

Category:Currents of the Atlantic Ocean