First Observations of Seasonal Variability in Water Mass Properties Across the Agulhas Current

The seasonal variability of Agulhas Current properties is not well understood because there have been few data collected during austral winter. Here we analyze 8 repeat hydrographic sections that have been collected across the Agulhas Current at 34 degrees S over the past decade, including the first full-depth winter surveys of the Agulhas Current, collected in 2016 and 2018. Several differences between the summer and winter occupations of the current are observed which can be attributed to seasonal variability. The most significant difference is the upward shoaling of central waters onto the continental shelf in the summer. These waters flood the shelf with nutrients and oxygen during the summer months, when the Agulhas Current is strongest, but not during winter. Over the top 100 m of the water column seasonality is dominated by surface fluxes, with warmer waters in summer. Immediately below the surface, however, waters are warmer during winter because of the mixing down of Tropical Surface Waters into the deepening mixed layer. Throughout the Agulhas Current at central and intermediate depths waters are cooler in summer and this is due to the upward tilt of the isopycnals, consistent with stronger geostrophic transport. Seasonality is also evident at depth, where North Atlantic Deep Water has a stronger equatorward flow during winter when the Agulhas Current is weaker and shallower.

Automated summary

The seasonal variability of the Agulhas Current is characterized by stronger and warmer waters in summer, providing nutrients and oxygen to the continental shelf, and weaker and cooler waters in winter, with reduced equatorward flow of North Atlantic Deep Water.