A frontal crossing associated with a salinity increase (decrease)
followed by a frontal crossing associated with a salinity
decrease (increase) can be produced by an eddy. Tomczak
and Andrews (1997) reported an AAIW eddy between New
Zealand and Fiji. The eddy had its core at 900m and did not
extend into the surface layer. It was associated with a salinity
difference of 0.2 with its surroundings and measured some
100 km across (Fig. 13). An Argo float with a typical surface
position separation of 20 km corresponding to a spatial
resolution at AAIW depth of 10 km would see this eddy as
an elevated salinity minimum at 10 successive profiles, after
which the profile would return to the values recorded before
the eddy was encountered. A longer lasting influence can be
expected if the eddy moves with the current at AAIW depth,
which is likely to be close to the current experienced by the
float at parking depth.