and 12 days later the speed was only about 1.0 knot. 
When the current is strong the core is narrow and farther west, 
being located close to the 100-fathom (183-meter) curve. When it is 
weakest during winter, the core is broader and lies 10 to 20 nautical 
miles east of the 100-fathom curve. 
Figure 31 shows the core of the current as determined from GEK 
observations; the surface current component is N and NNW, coinciding 
with the prevailing data in Table 15. The lines along which 
measurements were taken are limited to where speeds are 1.0 knot 
and greater; the width of the current was observed to be about 65 
miles. 
Little is known about subsurface currents. Recent works have 
indicated that maximum speeds may occur below the surface near the 
middle of the current to depths of 300 meters (984 feet). At 500 
meters (1,640 feet) in the middle of the strait, east of the current 
axis, the currents determined from dynamic computations show a range 
in speed between 0.5 and 0.9 knot. 
88 
