Spectral characteristics of mesoscale variability of the bottom currents in the Ocean

Abstract

We performed spectral analysis of variations in the bottom currents on the basis of direct measurements in a number of regions of the entire Atlantic Ocean. We compared the spectra of the atmospheric pressure fluctuations at sea level and fluctuations of current velocities in the bottom layer. A significant energy of current fluctuations near the bottom with a synoptic period in the range 10–15 days that exceeds similar energies in the other regions of the ocean was found in the region of the Newfoundland energetically active zone, where increased cyclonic activity in the atmosphere is observed.