The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current
The physical elements of the circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) are reviewed. A picture of the circulation is sketched by means of recent observations from the WOCE decade. We present and discuss the role of forcing functions (wind stress, surface buoyancy flux) in the dynamical...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2004
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002251 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102004002251 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0954102004002251 2024-06-23T07:47:45+00:00 The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current OLBERS, DIRK BOROWSKI, DANIEL VÖLKER, CHRISTOPH WÖLFF, JORG-OLAF 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002251 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102004002251 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Antarctic Science volume 16, issue 4, page 439-470 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 journal-article 2004 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002251 2024-06-12T04:05:07Z The physical elements of the circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) are reviewed. A picture of the circulation is sketched by means of recent observations from the WOCE decade. We present and discuss the role of forcing functions (wind stress, surface buoyancy flux) in the dynamical balance of the flow and in the meridional circulation and study their relation to the ACC transport. The physics of form stress at tilted isopycnals and at the ocean bottom are elucidated as central mechanisms in the momentum balance. We explain the failure of the Sverdrup balance in the ACC circulation and highlight the role of geostrophic contours in the balance of vorticity. Emphasis is on the interrelation of the zonal momentum balance and the meridional circulation, the importance of diapycnal mixing and eddy processes. Finally, new model concepts are described: a model of the ACC transport dependence on wind stress and buoyancy flux, based on linear wave theory; and a model of the meridional overturning and the mean density structure of the Southern Ocean, based on zonally averaged dynamics and thermodynamics with eddy parametrization. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Southern Ocean Cambridge University Press Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic Antarctic Science 16 4 439 470 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
The physical elements of the circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) are reviewed. A picture of the circulation is sketched by means of recent observations from the WOCE decade. We present and discuss the role of forcing functions (wind stress, surface buoyancy flux) in the dynamical balance of the flow and in the meridional circulation and study their relation to the ACC transport. The physics of form stress at tilted isopycnals and at the ocean bottom are elucidated as central mechanisms in the momentum balance. We explain the failure of the Sverdrup balance in the ACC circulation and highlight the role of geostrophic contours in the balance of vorticity. Emphasis is on the interrelation of the zonal momentum balance and the meridional circulation, the importance of diapycnal mixing and eddy processes. Finally, new model concepts are described: a model of the ACC transport dependence on wind stress and buoyancy flux, based on linear wave theory; and a model of the meridional overturning and the mean density structure of the Southern Ocean, based on zonally averaged dynamics and thermodynamics with eddy parametrization. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
OLBERS, DIRK BOROWSKI, DANIEL VÖLKER, CHRISTOPH WÖLFF, JORG-OLAF |
spellingShingle |
OLBERS, DIRK BOROWSKI, DANIEL VÖLKER, CHRISTOPH WÖLFF, JORG-OLAF The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current |
author_facet |
OLBERS, DIRK BOROWSKI, DANIEL VÖLKER, CHRISTOPH WÖLFF, JORG-OLAF |
author_sort |
OLBERS, DIRK |
title |
The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current |
title_short |
The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current |
title_full |
The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current |
title_fullStr |
The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current |
title_full_unstemmed |
The dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current |
title_sort |
dynamical balance, transport and circulation of the antarctic circumpolar current |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002251 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102004002251 |
geographic |
Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Southern Ocean |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 16, issue 4, page 439-470 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002251 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
439 |
op_container_end_page |
470 |
_version_ |
1802651907926261760 |