FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Indo-Atlantic Exchange, Mesoscale Dynamics, and Antarctic Intermediate Water BT AF CAPUANO, Tonia Astrid SPEICH, Sabrina CARTON, Xavier LAXENAIRE, Remi AS 1:1;2:2;3:1;4:3; FF 1:;2:;3:;4:; C1 Lab Ocanog Phys & Spatiale, LOPS UBO, Brest, France. Ecole Normale Superieure, Lab Meteorol Dynam, LMD IPSL, Paris, France. CNRS, Ecole Polytech, ENS, UMR 8539, Paris, France. C2 UBO, FRANCE ENS, FRANCE CNRS, FRANCE UM LOPS IF 3.235 TC 6 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00600/71245/69616.pdf LA English DT Article DE ;eddy dynamics;Indo-Atlantic exchange;AAIW AB This study evaluates the capability of eddy-permitting regional ocean models to reproduce the interocean exchange south of Africa. In this highly turbulent region, we show that the vertical structure of the horizontal flows need to be appropriately resolved to realistically advect thermocline water masses into the South Atlantic. Our results point out that a grid-spacing of 1/24 degrees on the horizontal and 50 m on the vertical homogeneously distributed are required to account for a correct transport of surface and subsurface water masses properties and their in-route transformation by mixing. Preliminary Lagrangian analyses highlight the primary role of the upper-ocean mesoscale eddies on water masses transport and fate, with a particular emphasis on Antarctic Intermediate Waters (AAIWs) dynamics and characteristics. We evaluate the numerical results against observations (AVISO data and Argo floats profiles). Modeled and observed eddies were examined in number, polarity, size, trajectory, and for their contribution to AAIW properties. A clear asymmetry, in number and radius, emerges between cyclones and anticyclones. The high-resolution simulation was the most energetic, with more abundant and smaller structures than those detected in AVISO. However, eddy statistics compare reasonably well in terms of mean pathways when restricted to Agulhas Rings, which are on average quasi-Gaussian in shape. Regionally, the Ertel potential vorticity anomaly is marked at the surface by a temporal variability with winter intensification, directly reflected in the seasonal cycle of the eddies number. Noting the growth of the baroclinic Rossby radius in winter, this suggests baroclinic processes as essential for these eddies generation. PY 2018 PD MAY SO Journal Of Geophysical Research-oceans SN 2169-9275 PU Amer Geophysical Union VL 123 IS 5 UT 000436111400009 BP 3286 EP 3306 DI 10.1002/2017JC013521 ID 71245 ER EF