@article{fdi:010077177,
  title = {{E}ddies in the tropical {A}tlantic ocean and their seasonal variability},
  author = {{A}guedjou, {H}. {M}. {A}. and {D}adou, {I}. and {C}haigneau, {A}lexis and {M}orel, {Y}. and {A}lory, {G}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}e study mesoscale eddy characteristics in the tropical {A}tlantic {O}cean, using 23 years of daily altimetry sea level anomalies. {E}ddies are mainly generated in the eastern boundary upwelling systems and in the {B}razil {C}urrent region. {T}heir westward propagation speed reaches 20 cm/s in equatorial areas, decreasing with latitudes. {T}hey present typical amplitudes of 1-5 cm. {T}he largest and most energetic eddies are observed in the equatorial region, especially in the {N}orth {B}razil {C}urrent ({NBC}) retroflection. {T}he seasonal cycle of the eddy characteristics shows higher amplitudes along the {NBC} retroflection and the western part of the {N}orth {E}quatorial {C}ountercurrent. {A} new criterion, based on altimetry data, determines the probability that barotropic instability of mean surface currents is responsible for eddy generation. {W}e find a strong likelihood that the latter plays a key role along the {N}orth {E}quatorial {C}ountercurrent, whereas other mechanisms must be invoked for the {NBC} region.},
  keywords = {mesoscale eddies ; tropical {A}tlantic {O}cean ; altimetry ; seasonal variability ; barotropic instability ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE} ; {ZONE} {EQUATORIALE} ; {BRESIL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{G}eophysical {R}esearch {L}etters},
  volume = {46},
  numero = {21},
  pages = {12156--12164},
  ISSN = {0094-8276},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1029/2019gl083925},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010077177},
}