@article{fdi:010057140,
  title = {{I}mpact of intensified {I}ndian {O}cean winds on mesoscale variability in the {A}gulhas system},
  author = {{B}ackeberg, {B}. {C}. and {P}enven, {P}ierrick and {R}ouault, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}outh of {A}frica, the {A}gulhas {C}urrent retroflects and a portion of its waters flows into the {S}outh {A}tlantic {O}cean(1), typically in the form of {A}gulhas rings(2). {T}his flux of warm and salty water from the {I}ndian to the {A}tlantic {O}cean (the {A}gulhas leakage) is now recognized as a key element in global climate(3). {A}n {A}gulhas leakage shutdown has been associated with extreme glacial periods(4), whereas a vigorous increase has preceded shifts towards interglacials(5). {I}n the absence of a coherent observing system, studies of the {A}gulhas have relied heavily on ocean models, which have revealed a possible recent increase in {A}gulhas leakage(6-8). {H}owever, owing to the high levels of oceanic turbulence, model solutions of the region are highly sensitive to their numerical choices(9,10), stressing the need for observations to confirm these important model results. {H}ere, using satellite altimetry observations from 1993 to 2009, we show that the mesoscale variability of the {A}gulhas system, in particular in the {M}ozambique {C}hannel and south of {M}adagascar, has intensified. {T}his seems to result from an increased {S}outh {E}quatorial {C}urrent driven by enhanced trade winds over the tropical {I}ndian {O}cean. {O}verall, the intensified mesoscale variability of the {A}gulhas system is reflected in accelerated eddy propagation, in its source regions as well as the retroflection from which eddies propagate into the {S}outh {A}tlantic {O}cean. {T}his suggests that the {A}gulhas leakage may have increased from 1993 to 2009, confirming previous modelling studies that have further implied an increased {A}gulhas leakage may compensate a deceleration of meridional overturning circulation associated with a freshening of the {N}orth {A}tlantic {O}cean(6,11).},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}ature {C}limate {C}hange},
  volume = {2},
  numero = {8},
  pages = {608--612},
  ISSN = {1758-678{X}},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1038/nclimate1587},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010057140},
}