No abstract

At the surface of the Indian Ocean along the equator a narrow, jet-like current flows eastward at high speed during both transition periods between the two monsoons. The formation of the jet is accompanied by thermocline uplifting at the western origin of the jet and by sinking at its eastern terminus. This demonstrates that a time-variable current can have profound effects in changing the mass structure in the ocean.

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Sea level observations are used to estimate the amounts of warm water exchanged during the 1982–1983 El Nino event, indicating an eastward flux of about 40×106 m3 s−1. At the end of El Nino the equatorial Pacific is depleted of warm water which is lost toward higher latitudes. The duration of a complete El Nino cycle is determined by the time required for the slow accumulation of warm water in the western Pacific. The cycle constitutes an energy relaxation of the ocean‐atmosphere system.

No abstract