FAST, EASTWARD-MOVING DISTURBANCES IN THE SURFACE WINDS OF THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIC

A fast, eastward signal in the surface zonal winds of the equatorial P acific ocean is identified in ERS-1 data that coincide with an intrase asonal tropical oscillation during the intensive observing period of T OGA COARE. The fast eastward event is compared with observations for t he same time period from the TAO moorings at the equator. Similar even ts are identified in longer records of the ERS-1 and TAO data. A compo site event is constructed and a lag-correlation analysis is used to in fer basin-scale propagation speed. The fast eastward events in the ERS -1 data are consistent with signals in station surface pressure and st ation profile data quantified by Milliff and Madden and connected with first-baroclinic mode equatorial Kelvin wave propagation.