Objective analysis of meso-scale ocean circulation features

Abstract

Maps of the stream function field at 4 depths in the ‘MODE region’ of the North Atlantic Ocean are presented. The maps are of variable quality. The maps at 500 and 1500 m serve to show the sense of rotation of eddies throughout the period described and the shapes of eddies for a substantial part of this time. At the two lower levels, 3000 and 4000 m, the shapes of eddies are not defined. Maps of the stream function field in the time-longitude plane show unmistakable evidence of westward propagation of the eddy field. The speed of westward pattern propagation is 5 cm s⁻¹ below the thermocline and 2 cm s⁻¹ above the thermocline.