Water masses, circulation and transport in the eastern boundary current ofthe North Atlantic subtropical gyre

CTD sections carried out in September 1998 are used to describe the water m asses, geostrophic circulation and mass transport in the easternmost branch of the Canary Current. The surface water mass (< 600 m) consists of North Atlantic Central Water (NACW) flowing south with a net mass transport of 2. 3 x 10(9) kg s(-1). A tongue of relatively fresh water, consisting of Antar ctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), was found approximately in the 600-1100 m d epth layer. This tongue was 200 km wide, stretching from the African coast almost to Gran Canaria Island, and transported a net mass of 1.1 x 10(9) kg s(-1) northward. This system of currents is what constitutes the real east ern boundary current of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre.