Processes contributing to interannual
steric sea level variability are studied over the period 1993 — 2004 using an observationally - constrained ocean state estimate produced by the ECCO («Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean») consortium.
The CTD sections show that the deeper layers are also warmer and slightly saltier and the observed
sea level can be explained by
steric expansion over the upper 2000 m. ENSO
variability impacts on the northern part of the section, and a simple Sverdrup transport model shows how large - scale changes in the wind forcing, related to the Southern Annular Mode, may contribute to the deeper warming to the south.