A model study of temperature anomaly propagation from the subtropics to tropics within the South Atlantic thermocline

A water mass flow formed by the Benguela Current and the South Equatorial C urrent connects the eastern subtropics to the western tropics through the A tlantic upper thermocline. We perform a process study with an Atlantic OGCM to examine whether and how synthetic subtropical mixed layer heat anomalie s would employ this corridor to reach low-latitudes. Our results suggest th at it is a realistic Scenario and that the time scale and trajectory of the movement can be explained to first approximation by time-mean flow advecti on, since salinity compensation is tempering the density perturbation. In a ddition, wave processes seem to influence strongly the evolution of the int ensity and the shape of the anomalies. It is apparent that an approach usin g both perspectives is necessary to fully understand and predict subsurface oceanic teleconnections.