AGULHAS LEAKAGE EDDIES BASED ON ALTIMETRY DATA
The Agulhas leakage refers to the waters exported from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic from the Agulhas current. Mesoscale eddies formed in the area of Agulhas Retroflection area according to the data of the Mesoscale Eddies in Altimeter Observations of SSH are analyzed. Eddies belonging to the Agulhas leakage found in five regions are considered. These eddies transfer warm and saline water anomalies to the South Atlantic, affecting global thermohaline circulation. The tracks of long-lived mesoscale eddies involved in the Agulhas leakage are analyzed and the variation of their number in five areas of interest is considered. Moving westward this eddies cross the Atlantic. It is shown that only a sixth part of eddies reach the shores of the South America. This approach makes it possible to determine the value of the Agulhas leakage: 21-27 Sv