Modeling a turbulence effect in formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current

A simple model to determine a turbulence effect in formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is suggested. The model is founded on the theory of rotationally anisotropic turbulence and is set up as a generalization of the geostrophic description of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales Geophysicae
Main Authors: J. Heinloo, A. Toompuu
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2006
Subjects:
Q
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-24-3191-2006
https://doaj.org/article/abb5202541824eebaa4715a0d6dc045d
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Summary:A simple model to determine a turbulence effect in formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is suggested. The model is founded on the theory of rotationally anisotropic turbulence and is set up as a generalization of the geostrophic description of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). It predicts the turbulence effect as an additive correction to the flow velocity predicted by the geostrophic balance. The correction, calculated from the optimally analyzed hydrographic data in the Southern Ocean, results in an increased ACC total baroclinic volume transport and in a shift in the current velocity maximum to the south, if compared with the pure geostrophic estimate.