Variability at Intermediate Depths at the Equator in the Atlantic Ocean in 2000–06: Annual Cycle, Equatorial Deep Jets, and Intraseasonal Meridional Velocity Fluctuations

Abstract

Abstract Time series of high vertical resolution current meter measurements between 600-m and 1800-m depths on the equator in the Atlantic were obtained at two locations, 10° and 23°W. The measurements have a time span of almost 7 years (2000–06) and provide insights into the temporal scales and vertical structure of variability at intermediate depths. Variability in the zonal velocity component records is dominated by semiannual, annual, and interannual fluctuations. At semiannual and annual periodicities, vertical scales are large, on the order of 2000 stretched meters (sm), and show upward phase propagation. In contrast, interannual variability is associated with small vertical scale flows, called equatorial deep jets (EDJs), presenting downward phase propagation most of the time. Fitting a plane wave to these small vertical-scale flows leads to velocity amplitude, vertical scale, and temporal scale estimates of 8 (normalized) cm s−1, 440 sm, and 4.4 yr. However, this plane wave cannot explain all the variability presenting small vertical scales. Indeed, the data suggest that, along with a seasonal cycle of much larger vertical scale, different features with EDJ vertical scale coexist, with the possibility of a semipermanent eastward jet at around 1500 sm. Variability in the meridional velocity component is dominated by intraseasonal fluctuations. In addition, at 23°W, the meridional component shows low-frequency flows that may be due to the interaction of zonal fluctuations with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.