Water masses and circulation in the surface layers of the Caribbean at 66 degrees W

A meridional hydrographic section was made in August-September 1997 at 66 d egreesW from the coast of Venezuela to Woods Hole aboard the R/V Knorr. In this report, we concentrate on near surface measurements in the Caribbean. The data show two distinct water masses with different origins. From approx imately 14 degreesN to Puerto Rico, Caribbean Surface Water and Subtropical UnderWater with their source in the North Atlantic are found, as previousl y observed. From Venezuela to approximately 13 degreesN, a less saline wate r mass with its source in the Tropics and South Atlantic is found. Within t he southern portion of the section, two different velocity patterns are obs erved, namely, an eastward flow with a subsurface maximum near the coast of Venezuela, and a surface intensified westward jet with velocities of 130 c m s(-1) in midbasin.