ON THE EDDY FIELD IN THE AGULHAS RETROFLECTION, WITH SOME GLOBAL CONSIDERATIONS

Moored instrument data are used to describe and summarize selected cha racteristics of the observed time-dependent flow at low frequencies, t hat is, the eddy field, in the Agulhas Retroflection. In addition, the basic features of the eddy kinetic energy (K-E) distributions in the Agulhas Current System (ACS) are compared with those from analogous st rong current regimes in other oceans, concentrating on those from the Gulf Stream System (GSS). Similarities between the eddy field in the A CS and the GSS are found to include the vertical structure of K-E as w ell as its distribution with frequency. This correspondence between th e eddy fields in the ACS and GSS is probably associated with a consona nt physical mechanism (mixed barotropic/baroclinic instability) for ed dy generation in the presence of comparable upper and intermediate lay er mean flow characteristics. It is also pointed out (for the first ti me to my knowledge) that the upper 1000 m or so (sigma(theta) less tha n or equal to 27.4) of the ACS and GSS can have a very similar distrib ution of transport in potential density classes. Relationships between the eddy field and the general circulation for the ACS and GSS with t he Kuroshio Current System and the North Brazil Current System are des cribed in less detail and scope. It seems probable that the characteri stics of the global eddy field are strongly affected by the interbasin -scale upper and intermediate layer replacement flows associated with the global thermohaline circulation.