Supply routes of eastern tropical Atlantic upwelling regions -- shallow ARGO Floats

J. Fischer, F. Schott, B. Rabe

Leibniz-Institut fuer Meereswissenschaften (IFM-GEOMAR)
Duesternbrooker Weg 20
D-24105 Kiel, Germany

The shallow circulation of the tropical Atlantic is investigated by a combination of shipboard observations (velocity and watermass characteristics), of moored current records and by using profiling floats (ARGO) drifting at 200m and 400m depths, respectively. The floats follow characteristical routes from the western boundary to the central and eastern regimes of the tropical Atlantic, with the off-equatorial undercurrents playing an important role. Sensor performance of the shallow floats will also be addressed.