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Gliders Measure Western Boundary Current Transport from the South Pacific to the Equator*

Authors :
Jeffrey T. Sherman
Russ E. Davis
William S. Kessler
Source :
Journal of Physical Oceanography. 42:2001-2013
Publication Year :
2012
Publisher :
American Meteorological Society, 2012.

Abstract

“Spray” gliders, most launched from small boats near shore, have established a sustainable time series of equatorward transport through the Solomon Sea. The first 3.5 years (mid-2007 through 2010) are analyzed. Coast-to-coast equatorward transport through the Solomon Sea fluctuates around a value of 15 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) with variations approaching ±15 Sv. Transport variability is well correlated with El Niño indices like Niño-3.4, with strong equatorward flow during one El Niño and weak flow during two La Niñas. Mean transport is centered in an undercurrent focused in the western boundary current; variability has a two-layer structure with layers separated near 250 m (near the core of the undercurrent) that fluctuate independently. The largest variations are in midbasin, confined to the upper layer, and are well correlated with ENSO. Analysis of velocity and salinity on isopycnals shows that the western boundary current within the Solomon Sea consists of a deep core coming from the Coral Sea and a shallow core that enters the Solomon Sea in mid basin. Analysis of the structure of transport and its fluctuations is presented.

Details

ISSN :
15200485 and 00223670
Volume :
42
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Physical Oceanography
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........d28ba67d5e4478b89825c16ed1b45d07
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1175/jpo-d-12-022.1