A recent study published on October 31, 2024, in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans has uncovered significant acceleration in the upper-ocean circulation of the equatorial Pacific over the past 30 years. This change is primarily driven by intensified atmospheric winds, resulting in stronger and shallower oceanic currents.
Led by Franz Philip Tuchen from the University of Miami's NOAA Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, the research team collaborated with NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. They synthesized three decades of ocean and atmospheric observations from satellites, mooring buoys, and ocean surface drifters.
The study integrates wind data and satellite altimetry into a high-resolution, gridded time series of near-surface ocean currents, providing a comprehensive view of changes in the Pacific upper-ocean circulation. These findings have significant implications for regional and global climate patterns, particularly regarding the frequency and intensity of El Niño and La Niña events.