NOAA/AOML Altimetry Products

Agulhas Current


Overview

The transfer of warm water from the Indian Ocean to the South Atlantic subtropical gyre takes place mostly in the form of rings and filaments formed when the Agulhas Current retroflects south of Africa between 15°E and 25°E. It has been observed a closed correlation between the transport of this current and the shedding of rings (Goni et al, JMR, vol.55, 861-883, 1997).

Monitoring both the Agulhas transport into the South Atlantic in the upper kilometer of the ocean and the number of rings shed at its retroflection provides a means of detecting any substantial changes in the inter-ocean water exchange.


Products

Rms of sea height

Field of rms of sea height for the Agulhas retroflection region estimated using altimetry fields. Go





Mean Eddy Kinetic Energy

Fields of meridional and zonal components of the mean eddy kinetic energy for the Agulhas retroflection region estimated using altimetry fields. Go



Geostrophic transport time-series

Geostrophic transport time-series of the Agulhas Current estimated using a combination of satellite altimetry fields and climatological data. This time-series is updated on a monthly basis. Go

Space-time diagram of sea height anomaly

Space-time diagram of sea height anomaly (SHA). This diagram is updated on a monthly basis. Go