Study of Equatorial currents of the Pacific Ocean

Authors

  • V. A. Burkov Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the USSR Academy of Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29006/1564-2291.JOR-1960.2(1).13

Keywords:

Equatorial currents, Pacific ocean currents, Burks, countercurrents, southern, trade-wind current, Northern trade-wind current, inter-Passat current, Meridional circulation, zonal currents

Abstract

The article presents preliminary results of researches in the Northern and Southern trade wind currents and in the Equatorial countercurrent between them in the central and western regions of the Pacific. The structure of these currents is shown along the meridional section. One of the main characteristics of the structure is the spreading of the Equatorial countercurrent with greater depths and the formation of deep-water countercurrents. The short-life changes of the Equatorial currents and the resulting intensive eddies on their borders are touched upon. In conclusion the paper shows the connection between the Equatorial currents and water masses, and states that tropical fronts spread with greater depths following the: spreading of the Equatorial countercurrent.

References


  1. Burkov V.A., Bogdanov K.T., Shirey V.A., Gamutilov A.E. The methodology of hydrological work on the high seas. Proceedings of the Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vol. 24, 1957, [In Russian].
  2. Burkov V.A., Ovchinnikov I.M. Features of the structure of zonal flows and meridional circulation in the central part of the Pacific Ocean in the winter of the northern hemisphere. Proceedings of the Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vol. 40, 1959, [In Russian].
  3. Burkov V.A., Arsenyev V.S., Ovchinnikov I.M. About tropical fronts in the oceans. Proceedings of the Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vol. 40, 1959, [In Russian].
  4. Dobrovolsky A.D. Water masses of the North Pacific. Manuscript. Institute of Oceanology, Moscow: Archive of the Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1947, [In Russian].
  5. Sea atlas. T. II Physics-geographical. Ministry of Defense of the USSR. XVIII. Moscow: Edition of the General Staff of the naval forces, 1953, XVIII, p. 76, sdv. L, [In Russian].
  6. Austin T.S. Summary Oceanographic and Fishery Data, Marquesas Islands Area, August-Sept. 1956 (Equapac). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv., Spec. Sci. Rept.-Fish., 1957, No. 217.
  7. Cromwell T.C., Montgomery R.B., and Stroup E.D. Equatorial Undercurrent in Pacific Ocean revealed by new methods. Science, 1954, Vol. 119.
  8. Jerlov N.G. Studies of the Equatorial currents in the Pacific. Tellus. Vol. 5, No. 3, 1953.
  9. Hidaka K. Dynamical Computation of Ocean Currents in a Vertical Section Occupied across the Equator. Japanese Journal of Geograhysics. May 1955, Vol. 1, No. 2.
  10. Sette O.E. Progress in Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations 1950–1953. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv., Spec., Sci, Rept.-Fish., 1954, No. 116.
  11. Sverdrup H.U., Johnson M.W., and Fleming R.W. The Oceans: Their Physics, Chemistry and General Biology. Prentice-Hall, Englewood, NJ, 1942. 1060 p.

Published

2019-12-22

Issue

Section

Marine geology, geophysics and geochemistry