ISOPYCNIC RAFOS FLOATS AS ROVING HYDROGRAPHERS IN THE NORTH-ATLANTIC CURRENT REGION

The properties measured by isopycnal floats can be compiled to provide hydrographic information about the sampled surfaces. The height and t emperature of two specific volume anomaly surfaces reported by 84 RAFO S floats deployed in the North Atlantic Current (NAC) region are compa red here with the climatological hydrographic database. The mean pathw ay of the NAC and other prominent features of the region are similar i n float-derived and climatological surfaces. The most striking differe nce between floats and climatology, an extended trough in the NAC path at 44 degrees N in the float-derived surface, reflects the sampling t ime scales. The baroclinic transport of the NAC estimated from RAFOS f loats using the observed climatological relationship between the poten tial energy anomaly and the height of the specific volume anomaly surf aces was 42 Sv at 42 degrees N and 24 Sv at 47 degrees N, in reasondbl e agreement with climatological estimates.