Abstract

In the spring of 1995 an array of two current meters was deployed over the sill in the Meninea contraction for an initial examination of currents. The experiment was part of the multidisciplinary program Cimar-Fiordo 1. For 61 days data were recorded every 30th min. The current meters were placed 25 and 40 m below the sea surface, the bottom depth was 60 m. The mean velocity was 15.9 cms-1 to the north and 2,0 cms-1 to the south in the deepest one. Tidal currents M2 dominated the current’s variability. Owing to the tidal current the transport capacity of the Meninea contraction relative to the two water masses increases. The residence time for the water on the southern side of the contraction is about 10 months.