Congo River's Freshwater Journey: 49 Days to the Atlantic

WHO:

Phys.org - Researchers from the Laboratory of Space Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies (LEGOS) and collaborating laboratories conducted the study.

ZME Science - The study was led by Cardot et al.

WHAT:

Phys.org - The Congo River releases an average of 40,000 cubic meters of water per second into the Atlantic Ocean.

ZME Science - The Congo River creates a large plume of fresh water that fans out 800 kilometers offshore.

ZME Science - An anticyclonic eddy formed near the Congo River plume lasted 49 days and grew to a radius of 150 kilometers, transporting low-salinity water roughly 200 kilometers offshore.

WHERE:

Phys.org - The Congo River is located in Africa and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

ZME Science - The study focused on the region of the Atlantic Ocean influenced by the Congo River discharge.

WHEN:

ZME Science - The study focused on the year 2016 due to strong observational records.

ZME Science - The anticyclonic eddy exported fresh water into the ocean in March and April of 2016.

WHY:

ZME Science - The study aimed to understand how fresh water moves from the Congo River into the Atlantic Ocean and its implications for regional ocean circulation and marine ecosystems.

HOW:

ZME Science - Researchers used a 3-kilometer ocean circulation model, NEMO (Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean), to simulate the Congo River discharge.

ZME Science - The model was validated using measurements of sea surface salinity, sea surface height, and surface current data gathered from the Automatic Identification System for ship tracking and processing done by eOdyn.

ZME Science - Particle-tracking experiments traced the origins of the water trapped inside the eddies, tracking more than 5,000 virtual particles back through time.

(UPDATED July 3, 2026 17:35 UTC)

Researchers from the Laboratory of Space Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies, along with collaborators, have conducted a study on the Congo River, which releases an impressive average of 40,000 cubic meters of water per second into the Atlantic Ocean, creating a large plume that extends 800 kilometers offshore. The study, led by Cardot et al., focused on the year 2016 and revealed that an anticyclonic eddy formed near the Congo River plume lasted for 49 days, growing to a radius of 150 kilometers while transporting low-salinity water about 200 kilometers offshore. Using a detailed ocean circulation model, researchers simulated the discharge and validated their findings with various measurements, including sea surface salinity and current data, to understand the implications for regional ocean circulation and marine ecosystems.