Coastal Currents Along the Southern Shore of Grand Bahama Island

Measurements of currents, temperature, and salinity were made over 1-month observation periods during summer and winter conditions in the shelf waters along the southern shore of Grand Bahama Island. Temperature and salinity transects reveal the absence of a coastal water mass. Coastal currents were highly variable and generally aligned with bottom isobaths. Maximum current speeds toward the east and west were approximately 40 cm/sec. Mean currents were weak (≈3 cm/sec) and toward the west. Energetic current fluctuations occurred with tidal to fortnightly periods. Most of the current variability was associated with low-frequency motions within a period band of 3 to 8 days. These fluctuations appear, at times, to be the direct result of local wind forcing during the passage of cold fronts; at other times they resemble westward propagating shelf waves. Implications to the Bahama's Oil Refining Company's tanker operation are discussed.