LOW-FREQUENCY VARIABILITY IN THE REGION OF THE AGULHAS RETROFLECTION

Using sea level data collected by TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter, we studied the low-frequency variability in the region of the Agulhas Retroflect ion and Return Current. We found that characteristics of the low-frequ ency variability are fundamentally different from those associated wit h the high-frequency mesoscale variability, As in the Kuroshio Extensi on region, strong low-frequency variability is found to duster around strong current. Although bottom topography is found to have strong inf luence on the low-frequency variability, correspondence between the sp atial structure of low-frequency variability and major bottom topograp hic features is significantly different from that in the Kuroshio Exte nsion region.