Agulhas Front
Published: March 29, 2010, 12:00 am
Updated: November 5, 2011, 1:37 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
C Michael Hogan
The Agulhas Front (AF) is a strong oceanic water front that occurs from subsurface to intermediate depth beneath the upper 100 to 150 meters that originates at around 20o–25o E below the southern tip of Africa. It extends to between 65o–90o E where it merges with the Southern Subtropical Front in the Indian Ocean sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The chief identification criterion is usually the depth range of the 10o isotherm, about 300–800 m south of Africa at 16o–27o E. This range shrinks to about 400–650 m to the east in the Kerguelan–Amsterdam passage, indicating the gradual weakening of the AF. A thermostad on the warm side of the AF in the 150–300 m layer is another useful identification criterion. This thermostad cools and freshens to east, ranging from 17o–18o C/35.5–35.6 at 20o E to 12o–14o C/35.2–35.4 at 70o E.
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This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to improve this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
Further Reading:
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Physical Oceanography Index
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Igor M. Belkin and Arnold L. Gordon. Southern Ocean fronts from the Greenwich meridian to Tasmania. J. Geophys. Res., pages 3675–3696, 1996.
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Citation
Steve Baum (Contributing Author);C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor) "Agulhas Front". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth March 29, 2010; Last revised Date November 5, 2011; Retrieved May 18, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Agulhas_Front>
The Agulhas Front (AF) is a strong oceanic water front that occurs from subsurface to intermediate depth beneath the upper 100 to 150 meters that originates at around 20o–25o E below the southern tip of Africa. It extends to between 65o–90o E where it merges with the Southern Subtropical Front in the Indian Ocean sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The chief identification criterion is usually the depth range of the 10o isotherm, about 300–800 m south of Africa at 16o–27o E. This range shrinks to about 400–650 m to the east in the Kerguelan–Amsterdam passage, indicating the gradual weakening of the AF. A thermostad on the warm side of the AF in the 150–300 m layer is another useful identification criterion. This thermostad cools and freshens to east, ranging from 17o–18o C/35.5–35.6 at 20o E to 12o–14o C/35.2–35.4 at 70o E.
|
This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to improve this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
Further Reading:
-
Physical Oceanography Index
-
Igor M. Belkin and Arnold L. Gordon. Southern Ocean fronts from the Greenwich meridian to Tasmania. J. Geophys. Res., pages 3675–3696, 1996.
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
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