Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM

The formation of persistent multiple fronts is an established feature of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Front strength and location are closely linked to eddy properties and therefore have important implications for the eddy-driven closure of the Southern Ocean meridional overturning circu...

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Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Thompson, Andrew F., Haynes, Peter H., Wilson, Chris, Richards, Kelvin J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/1/Thompson_etal_GRL2010.pdf
https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-112357390
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spelling ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:37345 2023-05-15T14:04:55+02:00 Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM Thompson, Andrew F. Haynes, Peter H. Wilson, Chris Richards, Kelvin J. 2010-12 application/pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/1/Thompson_etal_GRL2010.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-112357390 en eng American Geophysical Union https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/1/Thompson_etal_GRL2010.pdf Thompson, Andrew F. and Haynes, Peter H. and Wilson, Chris and Richards, Kelvin J. (2010) Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM. Geophysical Research Letters, 37 (23). Art. No. L23602. ISSN 0094-8276. doi:10.1029/2010GL045386. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-112357390 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-112357390> other Article PeerReviewed 2010 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL045386 2021-11-11T18:53:06Z The formation of persistent multiple fronts is an established feature of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Front strength and location are closely linked to eddy properties and therefore have important implications for the eddy-driven closure of the Southern Ocean meridional overturning circulation. ACC front structure is analyzed here by calculating regional probability density functions (PDFs) of potential vorticity diagnosed in an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model. Rapid spatial transitions in the number of fronts and in the density classes over which they occur are found. Front transitions are associated with the major topographic obstacles Kerguelen Island, Campbell Plateau and Drake Passage; multiple fronts are preferentially found downstream of these features. These findings highlight the significant departure from zonal symmetry of the ACC front structure and emphasize the importance of local dynamics on large-scale Southern Ocean properties. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Drake Passage Southern Ocean Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) Antarctic Campbell Plateau ENVELOPE(171.000,171.000,-50.667,-50.667) Drake Passage Kerguelen Kerguelen Island ENVELOPE(69.500,69.500,-49.250,-49.250) Southern Ocean The Antarctic Geophysical Research Letters 37 23 n/a n/a
institution Open Polar
collection Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology)
op_collection_id ftcaltechauth
language English
description The formation of persistent multiple fronts is an established feature of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Front strength and location are closely linked to eddy properties and therefore have important implications for the eddy-driven closure of the Southern Ocean meridional overturning circulation. ACC front structure is analyzed here by calculating regional probability density functions (PDFs) of potential vorticity diagnosed in an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model. Rapid spatial transitions in the number of fronts and in the density classes over which they occur are found. Front transitions are associated with the major topographic obstacles Kerguelen Island, Campbell Plateau and Drake Passage; multiple fronts are preferentially found downstream of these features. These findings highlight the significant departure from zonal symmetry of the ACC front structure and emphasize the importance of local dynamics on large-scale Southern Ocean properties.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Thompson, Andrew F.
Haynes, Peter H.
Wilson, Chris
Richards, Kelvin J.
spellingShingle Thompson, Andrew F.
Haynes, Peter H.
Wilson, Chris
Richards, Kelvin J.
Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM
author_facet Thompson, Andrew F.
Haynes, Peter H.
Wilson, Chris
Richards, Kelvin J.
author_sort Thompson, Andrew F.
title Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM
title_short Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM
title_full Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM
title_fullStr Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM
title_full_unstemmed Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM
title_sort rapid southern ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean gcm
publisher American Geophysical Union
publishDate 2010
url https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/1/Thompson_etal_GRL2010.pdf
https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-112357390
long_lat ENVELOPE(171.000,171.000,-50.667,-50.667)
ENVELOPE(69.500,69.500,-49.250,-49.250)
geographic Antarctic
Campbell Plateau
Drake Passage
Kerguelen
Kerguelen Island
Southern Ocean
The Antarctic
geographic_facet Antarctic
Campbell Plateau
Drake Passage
Kerguelen
Kerguelen Island
Southern Ocean
The Antarctic
genre Antarc*
Antarctic
Drake Passage
Southern Ocean
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctic
Drake Passage
Southern Ocean
op_relation https://authors.library.caltech.edu/37345/1/Thompson_etal_GRL2010.pdf
Thompson, Andrew F. and Haynes, Peter H. and Wilson, Chris and Richards, Kelvin J. (2010) Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM. Geophysical Research Letters, 37 (23). Art. No. L23602. ISSN 0094-8276. doi:10.1029/2010GL045386. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-112357390 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-112357390>
op_rights other
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL045386
container_title Geophysical Research Letters
container_volume 37
container_issue 23
container_start_page n/a
op_container_end_page n/a
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