Rx. Huang et B. Qiu, THE STRUCTURE OF THE WIND-DRIVEN CIRCULATION IN THE SUBTROPICAL SOUTH-PACIFIC OCEAN, Journal of physical oceanography, 28(6), 1998, pp. 1173-1186
The structure of the wind-driven circulation in the subtropical South
Pacific is studied using simple diagnostic and analytical models. The
diagnostic calculation is based on the Levitus climatology. The analyt
ical model is forced by observed winter mixed layer density and depth
calculated from the Levitus climatology and by the surface wind stress
data from the Hellerman and Rosenstein climatology. The wind-driven g
yre in the South Pacific is relatively deep, reaching 2.4 km along the
southern edge of the gyre. The gross feature of subduction obtained f
rom both the data analysis and the analytical model is similar, with a
n annual ventilation rate of 21.6 Sv (Sv = 10(6) m(3) s(-1)), includin
g 18.1 Sv from vertical pumping and 3.5 Sv from lateral induction. Alt
hough the annual subduction rate in the South Pacific is comparable to
that in the North Atlantic, lack of localized subduction leads to rel
atively weak mode water formation in the region where the East Austral
ian Current separates from its western boundary. In addition, results
from the analytical model indicate the existence of an isopycnal slope
reversal in the southeastern Pacific.