Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-923-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-923-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
28 Jun 2023
Research article |
| 28 Jun 2023
| 28 Jun 2023
Factors influencing the meridional width of the equatorial deep jets
Swantje Bastin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
now at: Climate Variability Department, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany
Martin Claus
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
Richard J. Greatbatch
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
Peter Brandt
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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Short summary
Equatorial deep jets are ocean currents that flow along the Equator in the deep oceans. They are relevant for oxygen transport and tropical surface climate, but their dynamics are not yet entirely understood. We investigate different factors leading to the jets being broader than theory predicts. Mainly using an ocean model, but corroborating the results with shipboard observations, we show that loss of momentum is the main factor for the broadening but that meandering also contributes.
Equatorial deep jets are ocean currents that flow along the Equator in the deep oceans. They are...
