Deep ocean currents detected with satellite altimetry

• Main Authors: Jacob L. Høyer, Detlef Quadfasel, Ole B. Andersen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Faroe Bank; Denmark Strait
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.534.9508; http://www.ifm.zmaw.de/fileadmin/files/images/Staff/Quadfasel/11cjrs_hoyer.pdf

Overflows of dense and cold bottom water through Denmark Strait and the Faroe Bank Channel are associated with enhanced meso-scale current variability associated with eddies. These fluctuations can be detected through enhanced sea surface height variability in TOPEX/POSEIDON and ERS 1+2 satellite altimeter data. The increased variability coincides with the overflow plumes and has a maximum about 50 km downstream of the Faroe Bank Channel. In Denmark Strait, enhanced variability extends 150 km downstream from the sill with a width of 50-100 km. There is good agreement between variability seen by the different satellites. The satellite observed variability is also in good agreement with in situ observations of temperature and salinity and output from 3-dimensional models of the overflow. Sea surface height data show seasonal variability that may be associated with annual variations of the overflow strength. 1