Agulhas Retroflection

E239257

ocean current system oceanographic feature

Agulhas Retroflection is a major oceanographic feature where the warm Agulhas Current loops back on itself near the southern tip of Africa, shedding eddies that influence global ocean circulation and climate.

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All labels observed (5)

Label	Occurrences
Agulhas rings	2
Agulhas Retroflection canonical	1
Agulhas Return Current	1
Agulhas Rings	1
Agulhas leakage	1

Statements (50)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	ocean current system ⓘ oceanographic feature ⓘ
associatedWith	inter-ocean exchange of heat ⓘ inter-ocean exchange of salt ⓘ subtropical gyre dynamics ⓘ thermohaline circulation ⓘ
boundedBy	Agulhas Return Current ⓘ Subtropical Front (South Pacific) ⓘ surface form: Subtropical Front
characterizedBy	large anticyclonic rings ⓘ sharp sea-surface temperature gradients ⓘ strong mesoscale variability ⓘ
contributesTo	Agulhas Retroflection self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Agulhas leakage
definition	region where the Agulhas Current loops back on itself and returns to the Indian Ocean ⓘ
feeds	Agulhas Return Current ⓘ
firstDescribedInDiscipline	physical oceanography ⓘ
formedBy	Agulhas Current ⓘ western boundary current of the southwest Indian Ocean ⓘ
hasCoordinateApprox	40°S 16°E ⓘ
hasProcess	current retroflection ⓘ
influences	Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation ⓘ Southern Ocean circulation ⓘ global climate system ⓘ global ocean circulation ⓘ regional climate of southern Africa ⓘ
locatedIn	South Atlantic ⓘ surface form: South Atlantic Ocean southwestern Indian Ocean ⓘ
locatedNear	Cape of Good Hope ⓘ southern tip of Africa ⓘ
locatedOffCoastOf	Southern Africa ⓘ surface form: southern Africa
partOf	Agulhas Current ⓘ surface form: Agulhas Current system
playsRoleIn	closure of the Indian Ocean subtropical gyre ⓘ exchange between Indian and Atlantic subtropical gyres ⓘ
redirectsFlowTo	Indian Ocean ⓘ
sensitivityTo	climate variability such as glacial–interglacial cycles ⓘ position of subtropical front ⓘ wind stress over Southern Ocean ⓘ
sheds	Agulhas Retroflection self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Agulhas rings cold-core eddies ⓘ warm-core eddies ⓘ
studiedUsing	Lagrangian floats ⓘ numerical ocean models ⓘ satellite altimetry ⓘ sea-surface temperature imagery ⓘ
transportsWaterFrom	Indian Ocean ⓘ
transportsWaterTo	South Atlantic ⓘ surface form: South Atlantic Ocean
typicalRingDiameter	200–400 km ⓘ
typicalRingDriftDirection	northwestward into South Atlantic ⓘ
typicalRingLifespan	months to years ⓘ
waterMassExport	South Atlantic thermocline waters ⓘ
waterMassSource	Indian Ocean subtropical waters ⓘ

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Agulhas Current → formsFeature → Agulhas Retroflection ⓘ

this entity surface form: Agulhas Rings

Agulhas Current → associatedWith → Agulhas Retroflection ⓘ

this entity surface form: Agulhas Return Current

Agulhas Retroflection → sheds → Agulhas Retroflection self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Agulhas rings

Agulhas Retroflection → contributesTo → Agulhas Retroflection self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Agulhas leakage

Southwest Indian Ocean → hasPhenomenon → Agulhas Retroflection ⓘ

this entity surface form: Agulhas rings