Agulhas Return Current
E830466
The Agulhas Return Current is a major oceanic current in the South Indian Ocean that flows eastward from the southern tip of Africa, carrying warm water into the mid-latitudes and playing a key role in global thermohaline circulation.
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf | ocean current ⓘ |
| affects |
marine ecosystems in South Indian Ocean
ⓘ
sea surface temperature patterns in South Indian Ocean ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs | Agulhas Return NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| approximateEndLongitude | extends eastward into central South Indian Ocean ⓘ |
| approximateStartLongitude | around 20°E–25°E ⓘ |
| associatedWith | Agulhas retroflection NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| basin | South Indian Ocean NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| boundaryType | western boundary current extension ⓘ |
| carries | Agulhas rings and eddies ⓘ |
| characterizedBy |
high eddy activity
ⓘ
sharp temperature gradients ⓘ |
| climateRelevance | influences Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation via leakage ⓘ |
| climatologicalImportance | key component of Indo-Atlantic exchange ⓘ |
| connectedTo |
Agulhas Current
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Antarctic Circumpolar Current NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| contributesTo |
inter-ocean heat transport
ⓘ
salt transport from Indian to Atlantic Ocean via rings ⓘ |
| directionRelativeToAfrica | eastward from southern Africa ⓘ |
| discoveredBy | oceanographers studying Agulhas system ⓘ |
| dynamicType | strong frontal current ⓘ |
| featureOf | Southwest Indian Ocean gyre NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| flowsAlong | Subtropical Front in South Indian Ocean NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| flowsFrom | Agulhas Current retroflection region NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| forms | part of the southern limb of the subtropical gyre in South Indian Ocean ⓘ |
| generalDirection | eastward ⓘ |
| governingForces |
planetary vorticity balance
ⓘ
wind stress over South Indian Ocean ⓘ |
| influences |
climate of Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes
ⓘ
exchange between Indian and Atlantic Oceans ⓘ heat transport in South Indian Ocean ⓘ |
| latitudeRange | mid-latitudes of South Indian Ocean ⓘ |
| linkedTo | variability in Agulhas leakage into Atlantic Ocean ⓘ |
| ocean | Indian Ocean NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| originatesNear | southern tip of Africa ⓘ |
| partOf |
global ocean circulation
ⓘ
global thermohaline circulation ⓘ |
| region | south of Africa ⓘ |
| role | returns part of Agulhas Current flow back into Indian Ocean ⓘ |
| separates | subtropical waters from subantarctic waters ⓘ |
| studiedUsing |
drifters and floats
ⓘ
satellite altimetry ⓘ ship-based hydrographic sections ⓘ |
| timeScaleOfVariability | interannual to decadal ⓘ |
| transports | warm water ⓘ |
| typicalTemperature | warmer than surrounding subantarctic waters ⓘ |
| waterMassType | subtropical water ⓘ |
Referenced by (3)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.