Publication Date:
2020-08-05
Description:
The combined analysis of hydrographic, kinematic, and dynamic data collected during the 1997–1999 KAPEX (CAPe of Good Hope EXperiments) reveals a quasi-stationary meandering pattern of the Agulhas Retroflection Current east and upstream of the Southwest-Indian Ridge. The current meanders between 38°S and 40°S in a spatially and temporally continuous fashion and has a core width of approximately Full-size image (〈1 K) with an associated transport of Full-size image (〈1 K) in the upper Full-size image (〈1 K). Peak surface velocities decrease from Full-size image (〈1 K) near the Agulhas Retroflection to Full-size image (〈1 K) around 32°E. Meander troughs (northward extremes) are found predominantly near 26.8°E, 32.6°E and 38.9°E, while crests (southward extremes) are located with high probability near 29.7°E, 35.5°E and 42.9°E, resulting in a typical wavelength of Full-size image (〈1 K). Cold eddies are shed along the northern boundary of the current from meander troughs into the recirculation regime between the Agulhas Current proper and the Agulhas Return Current. Strongest cyclonic eddies are preferably shed in austral autumn. The cyclonic eddies so formed propagate westward at an average phase-speed of Full-size image (〈1 K), with, however, a variability of at least the same magnitude. Subsequently, the cyclones are absorbed by the next meander trough located upstream and to the west of the shedding trough.
Type:
Article
,
PeerReviewed
Format:
text
DOI:
10.1016/S0967-0645(02)00377-6
