Abstract
Observations from the GATE Equatorial Oceanographic Experiment are presented. They reveal large scale meandering of the westward flowing South Equatorial Current and of the eastward flowing Equatorial Undercurrent with time scales of 2–3 weeks. Meandering of the flow pattern was found to be related to corresponding displacements of the high salinity core of the undercurrent. The observations tend to support the assumption of a long wave propagating westward with a phase speed of 2.3 m s−1 and a wavelength of 3,200 km. A possible explanation may be given in terms of unstable waves caused by large scale horizontal shear in the Equatorial Current System.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mason, B. J., and Kuettner, J. P., Nature, 255, 17–20 (1975).
Düing, W., Review of the Equatorial Oceanographic Experiment, Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc., 55, 398–404 (1974).
Philander, G., Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc., 55, 738–744 (1974).
Düing, W., and Johnson, D., Deep-Sea Res., 19, 259–274 (1972).
Düing, W., GATE News, 9, 4–5 (US GATE Project Office, NOAA, 1974).
Rinkel, M. O., in Proc. Symp. Oceanography Fish. Resources Tropical Atlantic, 193–212 (UNESCO, Paris, 1969).
Bubnov, V. A., Egorikhin, V. D., and Moroshkin, K. V., GATE Report, No. 14(I) (WMO, Geneva, 1975).
Hallock, Z. R., and Moroshkin, K. V., GATE Report, No. 14(I) (WMO, Geneva, 1975).
Meincke, J., GATE Report, No. 14(I) (WMO, Geneva, 1975).
Charney, J. G., and Spiegel, S. L., J. phys. Oceanogr., 1, 149–160 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Düing, W., Hisard, P., Katz, E. et al. Meanders and long waves in the equatorial Atlantic. Nature 257, 280–284 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/257280a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/257280a0
This article is cited by
-
Contribution of tropical instability waves to ENSO irregularity
Climate Dynamics (2019)
-
Revisiting tropical instability wave variability in the Atlantic ocean using SODA reanalysis
Ocean Dynamics (2018)
-
Effects of tropical instability wave (TIW)-induced surface wind feedback in the tropical Pacific Ocean
Climate Dynamics (2014)
-
Sensitivity of near-surface atmospheric circulation to tropical instability waves
Climate Dynamics (2014)
-
Mean meridional currents in the central and eastern equatorial Atlantic
Climate Dynamics (2014)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.