TM No. 327 



VsLriability in current velocity exhibited by individual drogues is 

 indicative of a turbulent current structure. 



The circulation in the Tongue of the Ocean is turbulent in nature; 

 that is, there is no well-defined mean motion such as one finds in the Gulf 

 Stream. 



It is, therefore, extremely difficult to predict the current structure 

 over relatively short periods (two or three tidal cycles). . 



On the basis of the above conclusions, it may be necessary to 

 monitor current information on the AUTEC Weapons Range prior to, during, and 

 after tracking experiments in order that the dynamic oceanographic environment 

 can be correlated with tracking of the test vehicles. However, better measure- 

 ments are needed before a definite conclusion is made, 



RECENT MEASURHVffiNTS IN AUTEC 



Since the AUTEC Weapons Range will depend on a bottom-mounted system 

 which must be compatible with the oceanic environment, bottom current informa- 

 tion is necessary in order to facilitate the engineering design for the 

 bottom-mounted system. 



To this end bottom current measurements were made over a two-week period 

 during March 196^+. The measurements were made by KA.VOCEAMO at the request 

 of MV UNDERWATER ORDSTA, using self-recording Richardson-type current meters. 

 Measurements were made at 2, 3) and 10 meters above the bottom and at a 

 number of other depths. Measurements were concentrated in the launch area, 

 re-entry area, and along a line connecting the centers of these two areas. 

 (See figure l?*) Data were recorded on l6mm film in a gray binary code. The 

 film is being machine read for subsequent analysis. Table 8 is a summary of 

 recent current measurements and is included in order to detail each array. 

 Use table 8 with figure YJ . 



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