Articles | Volume 22, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-735-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-735-2026
Research article
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23 Feb 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 23 Feb 2026

Mesoscale variability and water mass transport of the Caribbean Current revealed by high-resolution glider observations

Joseph C. Gradone, William D. Wilson, Scott M. Glenn, Leah N. Hopson, and Travis N. Miles

Cited articles

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Carton, J. A. and Chao, Y.: Caribbean Sea eddies inferred from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry and a 1/6° Atlantic Ocean model simulation, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 104, 7743–7752, https://doi.org/10.1029/1998jc900081, 1999. 
Casanova-Masjoan, M., Joyce, T. M., Pérez-Hernández, M. D., Vélez-Belchí, P., and Hernández-Guerra, A.: Changes across 66° W, the Caribbean Sea and the Western boundaries of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, Progress in Oceanography, 168, 296–309, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2018.09.013, 2018. 
Chelton, D. B., deSzoeke, R. A., Schlax, M. G., El Naggar, K., and Siwertz, N.: Geographical Variability of the First Baroclinic Rossby Radius of Deformation, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 28, 433–460, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1998)028<0433:GVOTFB>2.0.CO;2, 1998. 
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The Caribbean Through-Flow is an important conduit between the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre and the upper branch of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning circulation. Gradone et al. used observations collected during a series of consecutive 90-days glider transects during summer 2024. Their results show a significant decline in the magnitude of the zonal transport (by about 50%) which is attributed to a shift in dynamics from geostrophic balance to increased mesoscale activity. They provide an important insight into how ocean gliders in combination with other data streams help to further understand mesoscale circulation and quantify the contributions of eddies to transport in this understudied region of the Caribbean.
Short summary
The Caribbean Through-Flow carries warm Atlantic water westward, influencing climate and ocean circulation, yet its variability is poorly resolved. Using over 90 days of autonomous underwater glider data collected in the central Caribbean, we observed a sharp drop in transport linked to mesoscale eddy activity. While transport varied, the water mass composition remained stable. These results demonstrate how gliders can capture dynamic ocean processes that shape inter-basin exchange.
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