Mesoscale variability and water mass transport of the Caribbean Current revealed by high-resolution glider observations

Abstract

The Caribbean Through-Flow (CTF) provides a key pathway linking the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre and the upper limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Yet, its internal structure and variability remain poorly resolved. Autonomous underwater gliders offer a unique capability to address this gap by collecting high-resolution hydrographic and velocity observations in regions where sampling is sparse. Here, data from a glider that operated for >90 d along 69° W in summer 2024 were analyzed to investigate mesoscale-driven variability in the CTF. Two consecutive occupations of this ∼600 km trans-Caribbean section revealed a sharp decline in zonal transport from -17.64 to -9.22 Sv, coinciding with a shift in mesoscale activity. Magnitude and variability in the vertical shear of the subsurface currents and dynamic height anomaly calculations from the glider data showed a shift from flow largely in geostrophic balance during Transect #1 to increased mesoscale influence during Transect #2. Satellite altimetry spanning the full deployment suggested this shift was driven by a cyclonic eddy that passed through the northern half of the section between the timing of the two transects. Despite the large changes in transport between transect occupations, water mass analysis showed that the relative contributions from North and South Atlantic water masses remained nearly constant. Direct sampling of an anticyclonic eddy during a partial Transect #3 revealed strong temperature and salinity anomalies in the upper 200 m. These findings highlight how glider observations can resolve key features and processes governing variability in this critical inter-basin pathway and improve understanding of mesoscale influences on large-scale circulation.