Eddies in the Pacific North Equatorial Current

Abstract

Observations taken during the Hawaii to Tahiti Shuttle Experiment allow identification of eddies drifting westward with the North Equatorial Current. During 17 months only three eddies passed through the area and their individual residence time is about four months. They probably represent non-dispersive first-mode baroclinic Rossby waves. The eddies represent no real problem for monitoring the strength of the North Equatorial Current since they can be easily recognized in temperature sections and are located near the center of the current.