Recent sections crossing the equator at nine longitudes from 146 degre
es E to 86 degrees W show zonal currents below 400 m similar to those
found in a 16-month mean section on 159 degrees W from the Pacific Equ
atorial Ocean Dynamics (PEQUOD) program in 1982-1983, Most of the new
measurements were made with a lowered acoustic Doppler current profile
r. Eastward current extrema (North and South Intermediate Countercurre
nts) are found in all sections about 2 degrees from the equator in the
depth range 500-1500 m, with the possible exceptions of 146 degrees E
, where topography complicates the picture south of the equator, and 1
50 degrees E, where the sections extend only from 1 degrees S to 2 deg
rees N. Poleward of the intermediate countercurrents, westward flow is
found near 3 degrees from the equator in most of the sections. On the
equator, from 250-500 m depth, a westward Equatorial Intermediate Cur
rent is found in many but not all of the sections. Similarly, it is pr
esent in the PEQUOD mean but not in all synoptic sections. Below the i
ntermediate currents and countercurrents, an eastward current near 300
0 m was found at and south of the equator in the PEQUOD mean and in th
e new sections from 150 degrees E to 110 degrees W. Near 4000 m there
is westward flow south of the equator in the PEQUOD mean and near the
equator in the new sections from 179 degrees E to 135 degrees W. Geost
rophic currents calculated from an 8-year mean hydrographic section at
165 degrees E also resemble the PEQUOD mean. Although not conclusive,
the evidence presented here indicates that these currents are basin-s
cale components of the general circulation, perhaps involving vigorous
horizontal recirculation in a set of basin-wide elongated gyres withi
n a few degrees of the equator.