Congo River Freshwater Takes a Bursty Atlantic Voyage via Giant Ocean Eddies
A new study using high‑resolution ocean modeling and satellite data traces the Congo River’s 40,000 m3/s freshwater plume into the tropical Atlantic, revealing that giant mesoscale eddies trap and carry river water hundreds of kilometers offshore in bursts rather than a steady spread, with seasonal discharge still driving the overall transport and smaller submesoscale features occasionally contributing. The findings impact understanding of regional circulation, climate and marine ecosystems across the Atlantic.
