Satellite observations of mesoscale eddy dynamics in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Abstract

Active mesoscale (300 km diameter) eddy formation off the Pacific coast of Central America was observed during February 1976 by a thermal infrared sensor aboard the NOAA 4 satellite. These anticyclonic eddies, closely associated with wind-induced upwellings, propagate westward at an average speed of 13 km day-SUB1, which is approximately the speed of nondispersive baroclinic Rossby waves at latitude 12SUPN. (A)