Hydrologic structure of waters in the north-western Tropical Atlantic

Abstract

Analytical data based on hydrological observations (34th cruise of the R/VAkademik Vernadsky) are used to show that the basic element contributing to oceanic circulation is the well-developed North Equatorial countercurrent. The latter is considered as a frontal zone separating two structures of water mass. It has been demonstrated that in the salinity field—besides the meridional exchange of subtropical and Antarctic waters—the zonal advection of low-salinity waters also plays an essential role. The water masses have been specified, their parameters determined, and volumes calculated. We have found that the thermohaline indices in the cores, of tropical and west equatorial water masses have different salinity values.