The average distribution of volume transport and potential vorticity with temperature at three sections across the Gulf Stream

Average cross sections of downstream velocity and temperature, obtained using PEGASUS current profilers at three locations along the Gulf Stream, have been partitioned into 2.5 degree C temperature intervals to examine the distribution of transport increase versus temperature between the two southern sections (27 degree and 29 degree N) and off Cape Hatteras (73 degree W). Between 27 degree and 29 degree N the total transport of the Florida Current over the sections increased only by about 3 x 10 super(6) m super(3) s super(-1) (3 Sv) but the current broadens by about 50%. By Cape Hatteras, the transport has increased nearly three-fold to 93.7 Sv, of which two-thirds of the increase is contained in the 19.5 degree -17.0 degree C ("18 degree ") layer and in water colder than the 7 degree C "sill" temperature found at 27 degree N.