Remote Impact of the Equatorial Pacific on Florida Current Transport

Satellite and in-situ measurements are used in this study to investigate a possible link between the Florida Current transport (FCT) and temperature changes in the equatorial Pacific. Consistent with the geostrophic nature of the current, the FCT variability shows good correspondence with the changes in sea surface height differences ( increment SSH) between the eastern (SSHeast) and western (SSHwest) sides of the Florida Straits. While the variability of SSHwest is mostly associated with seasonal and shorter timescale fluctuations of increment SSH and FCT, changes in SSHeast are strongly related to the interannual variability of increment SSH and FCT. A significant correlation is found between the FCT and the Oceanic Nino Index (ONI) on interannual timescales, which explains 21% of the interannual FCT variance. The connection of ONI with FCT is through its impact on SSHeast, associated with the anomalous convergence/divergence in the Caribbean region and the Bahamas forced by ONI-induced wind stress curl changes.

Automated summary

Satellite and in-situ measurements were used to investigate the relationship between the Florida Current transport (FCT) and temperature changes in the equatorial Pacific. The study found a strong correlation between FCT and the Oceanic Nino Index (ONI), and this correlation is mediated through the impact of ONI on sea surface height differences.