EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Pizarro et al. 2002
Pizarro, O., Shaffer, G., Dewitte, B. and Ramos, M. (2002). Dynamics of seasonal and interannual variability of the Peru-Chile Undercurrent. Geophysical Research Letters 29: doi: 10.1029/2002GL014790. issn: 0094-8276.

Coastal sea level, current, satellite altimeter data and an equatorial Kelvin wave model are used to study the dynamics of seasonal and interannual fluctuations of the Peru-Chile Undercurrent. Satellite altimetry shows that low frequency, sea level anomalies near 30¿S propagate offshore as expected from Rossby wave theory. Those anomalies are related to disturbances of equatorial origin observed near the coast of South America. With a wind-forced equatorial Kelvin wave model and simple Rossby wave dynamics we show that much of the sea level anomalies, and more than 50% of the observed undercurrent variability near 30¿S, at seasonal and interannual periods can be explained by long Rossby waves forced by the equatorial Kelvin waves. The amplitude of the equatorial Kelvin wave can be used to estimate the amplitude of the Rossby wave near the South American coast, and thus, to monitor low frequency changes in the Peru-Chile Undercurrent.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Oceanography, Physical, Currents, Oceanography, Physical, El Nino, Oceanography, Physical, Eastern boundary currents
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit