Abstract

The seasonal variability of the Azores Current energy transfers is studied using the output from a regional ocean model of the Eastern Central North Atlantic, forced by climatological surface fluxes and open ocean boundary conditions. The results show a stable Azores Current with baroclinic energy transfers supporting the current's energetics. Inverse barotropic energy transfers that feed the mean flow are several orders of magnitude smaller but this mechanism is active all year due to the Reynolds Stress convergence. These results support the findings of a stable Azores Current all year round.