WESTERN BOUNDARY CURRENTS
Low frequency processes in Western boundary currents
Nelson Hogg
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Along the western boundary both the thermohaline and wind-driven components of the general circulation are most intense and this permits rapid communication between the tropics and poles. Because the currents are so strong they are susceptible to instabilities, which in themselves, can lead to more intense circulation systems, more vigorous meridional exchanges of heat and mass and self sustained decadal time scale variability. Large experimental investigations of these processes have been carried out in the North Atlantic over the past two decades and some results from these will be described. Knowledge of the analogous processes in the North Pacific is much less. although there are hints they could be similar. Suggestions for future field investigations will be made.
