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Meridional heat transport across the Sub-Tropical Convergence by a warm eddy

Nature volume 331, pages 251–254 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

The heat transport of the ocean–atmosphere system is strongly dependent on the meridional transport of heat in the oceans and in particular that between the Southern Ocean and adjacent ocean basins. This ocean process may possibly be dominated by the propagation of energetic mesoscale eddies at certain distinct sectors of the Sub-Tropical Convergence such as those bordering the western boundary currents where eddies could be preferentially spawned. I report here for the first time the shedding of a warm ocean eddy from the Agulhas Current across the Sub-Tropical Convergence, its internal structure as well as rotational frequency. The subsequent drift of the eddy and its further interaction with the Sub-Tropical Convergence is documented by sequential satellite infrared measurements as well as the behaviour of a free-drifting buoy placed in the feature. Based on simultaneous hydrographic measurements, the total heat flux across the Sub-Tropical Convergence achieved by the eddy is estimated at 26.7 x 1017 J.

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  1. National Research Institute for Oceanology, CSIR, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa

    J. R. E. Lutjeharms

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  1. J. R. E. Lutjeharms
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Lutjeharms, J. Meridional heat transport across the Sub-Tropical Convergence by a warm eddy. Nature 331, 251–254 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/331251a0

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