Abstract:

In July 2018, an array of moorings and seafloor instruments was deployed in Yucatan Channel, Mexico to observe the flow through the channel with different methods. One method involved current meters on the moorings, and the other method derived geostrophic currents from observations of temperature and salinity on the moorings in combination with seafloor pressure. Data for the flow are presented here, expressed as ocean volume transport across the section in three different depth layers. The geostrophic data are only available in one particular geometry of layers and lateral positions across the channel. The transport derived directly from the current meter data is given on the same geometry for comparison, and additionally in a geometry that spans the entire channel for completeness. Metadata that describe these sample geometries are included. Related data products are available in related datasets U2.x860.000:0001 (bottom pressure and acoustic vertical round trip travel time differences; https://doi.org/10.7266/VRVK55SR), U2.x860.000:0002 (gridded density and geopotential height differences; https://doi.org/10.7266/YQWCV66H), and U2.x860.000:0003 (gridded vertical sections of zonal and meridional velocity components; https://doi.org/10.7266/AK8HHNYX).

Suggested Citation:

Send, Uwe, Julio Candela, Matthias Lankhorst, Gaston Manta, Jeff Sevadjian, and Julio Sheinbaum. 2024. Ocean volume transport from mooring observations across Yucatan Channel, Mexico from 2018-07-31 to 2020-07-31. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/GBCNGJQF

Purpose:

To monitor flow through Yucatan Channel, Mexico.

Data Parameters and Units:

Ocean volume transport (hm^3/s = Sverdrup)

Methods:

The methods using direct current observations are described by Candela et al., 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-18-0189.1). The geostrophic method uses seafloor pressure gradients from Pressure Inverted Echo Sounder (PIES) observations and dynamic height gradients from mooring temperature and salinity records.

Instruments:

Pressure-sensing Inverted Echo Sounder (PIES)

Provenance and Historical References:

Candela, J., Ochoa, J., Sheinbaum, J., López, M., Pérez-Brunius, P., Tenreiro, M., Pallàs-Sanz, E., Athié, G., and Arriaza-Oliveros, L. 2019. The Flow through the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 49(6), 1381-1401. https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-18-0189.1

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