Quasi-zonal jets in 3-D Argo data of the northeast Atlantic

Abstract

[1] Time-mean zonal velocities, estimated from Argo float trajectories and density profiles, are systematically examined for quasi-zonal jets, or striations, with the use of a simple search algorithm. A comparison to altimeter data combined with an independent estimate of the mean dynamic topography shows that the jets in the 2004–2006 period examined are persistent and stationary. The jets have a typical meridional width of 100 to 200 km and a median transport of 4 Sverdrups. The jets tilt at approximately 6° from southwest to northeast in the horizontal plane, but show no significant tilt in the vertical plane. Velocities and the cross-stream width are similar for the westward and eastward jets.