Marine Science Faculty Publications

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1997

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1997)027<1094:TZMBOT>2.0.CO;2

Abstract

Current velocity data from an array of subsurface moorings deployed during the Tropical Instability Wave Experiment from May 1990 to June 1991 are used to diagnose the upper-ocean zonal momentum balance at 08, 1408W. The flow field and associated zonal momentum flux divergence are fully three-dimensional over the upper 250 m, consistent with the earliest descriptions and theoretical ideas of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC). Estimates of the vertical stress divergence show dynamical flow regimes that change between the surface and the base of the EUC, being essentially linear (modified by nonlinearity) near the surface, weakly nonlinear at the EUC core, and fully nonlinear below the core. The vertical stress divergence is much larger over the lower portion of the EUC than previously reported, but this is consistent with the observed downstream deceleration of the EUC and the idea that vertical mixing is important in maintaining the thermostad. Nonlinearity becomes increasingly important with decreasing frequency, but tends to cancel upon vertical integration.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Physical Oceanography, v. 27, issue 6, p. 1094-1119

© Copyright 1998 American Meteorological Society (AMS). Permission to use figures, tables, and brief excerpts from this work in scientific and educational works is hereby granted provided that the source is acknowledged. Any use of material in this work that is determined to be “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 USC §108) does not require the AMS’s permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form, such as on a website or in a searchable database, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statement, requires written permission or a license from the AMS. All AMS journals and monograph publications are registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (http://www.copyright.com). Questions about permission to use materials for which AMS holds the copyright can also be directed to permissions@ametsoc.org. Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policy statement, available on the AMS website (http://www.ametsoc.org/CopyrightInformation).

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