Florida Current 
The Florida Current sets through the Straits of Florida from the 
Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. It shows a gradual increase 
in speed and persistency as it flows northeast and then north along 
the Florida coast; the current flows over a broad coastal plateau at 
depths usually less than 3,000 feet (914 meters). The volume trans- 
port of water through the strait between Key West and Havana is shown 
in Figure 16. 
In summer the part of the surface current south of 25°N moves 
farther south of its mean position, with a@ mean speed of 2.0 knots 
and a maximum speed of about 6.0 knots; the part of the current north 
of 25°N moves farther west of its mean position, with a mean speed of 
2.9 knots and a maximum speed of 6.5 knots. In winter the shift of 
position is in the opposite direction, and speeds are somewhat less by 
about 0.2 to O.5 knot. 
The flow prevails throughout the year, with no significant changes 
in direction; the speed, however, varies slightly from one season to 
another. Figure 17 shows the seasonal percent frequency of the pre- 
vailing surface current by speed groups for the specific regions 
indicated in Figure 18. In Region 1 the current is less restricted, 
and the higher frequencies are between 1.0 and 2.0 knots; in Region 2 
the current narrows, and the higher frequencies average about 2.2 
knots; in Region 3, the narrowest part of the current, the highest 
frequencies are greater than 2.2 knots. In all three regions the per- 
cent frequency during winter is higher in the lower speed groups, 
whereas the frequency in summer is higher in the higher speed groups. 
