VERTICAL STRUCTURE OF SYNOPTIC CURRENTS I N THE NORTH-EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC

Current meter data are considered which were obtained from 63 moorings during 1984-89 in the deep-water region of the tropical Pacific (the ''Abyssal'' experiment). Measurements were made at various depths thro ughout the 5-km water column. It is shown that low-frequency variabili ty accounts for a major fraction of the regional currents variability. It is shown that regional low-frequency (synoptic) currents have a th ree-layer vertical structure, because they are caused by nonstationary disturbances of various origin in the layers selected. Existence of p rolonged periods of comparatively strong synoptic currents at great de pths is established. Statistics of current speed measurements are give n.