South Atlantic Intermediate Waters Circulation Patterns and Time Estimation

Abstract

A first estimation of the South Atlantic Ocean circulation times at 1000 dbar is given using two dimensional Lagrangian simulation based on Argo inferred velocities.With the particles seeded in the wester margin, our results show a variable recirculation time for the South Atlantic Ocean Subtropical Gyre between 1 and 30 years, depending on the distance to the center of the gyre. A detailed schematic diagram of the observed propagation patterns is presented accompained by the circulation times. A seasonal periodicity affecting all the main ocean structure is revealed, showing the importance of the seasonal cycle in the understanding and modelization of the Ocean. Results are compared with numerical Lagrangian experiments based on the outputs from the reanalysis GLORYS2v4 of ¿º resolution