Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation
An explicit analytical model of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is presented in which the key feature is the balance between the Eulerian circulation acting to overturn the isopycnals and geostrophic eddies which tend to flatten them. Solutions for the stratification and overturning circulat...
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ftnavalpschool:oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/42124 2024-06-09T07:40:34+00:00 Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation Radko, Timour Oceanography 2005 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/10945/42124 unknown Journal of Marine Research, 63, 1041–1055, 2005 https://hdl.handle.net/10945/42124 This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States. Article 2005 ftnavalpschool 2024-05-15T00:43:36Z An explicit analytical model of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is presented in which the key feature is the balance between the Eulerian circulation acting to overturn the isopycnals and geostrophic eddies which tend to flatten them. Solutions for the stratification and overturning circulation are obtained by expanding the governing residual mean equations of motion in a small parameter (ε) which measures the relative strength of the surface buoyancy flux and mechanical forcing by winds. Our balanced asymptotic model extends and reconciles the earlier views on the dynamics of the (streamwise-averaged) ACC by demonstrating that the zero order balance between the eddy-induced circulation and the mean flow determines gross features of the buoyancy distribution in the interior of the ACC. The diabatic buoyancy fluxes are essential in driving the secondary (residual) circulation which is, however, largely steered along the pathways set by the dominant adiabatic balance. Model assumptions are supported by a close agreement of the analytical solutions and fully nonlinear numerical calculations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Naval Postgraduate School: Calhoun Antarctic The Antarctic |
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Open Polar |
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Naval Postgraduate School: Calhoun |
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ftnavalpschool |
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unknown |
description |
An explicit analytical model of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is presented in which the key feature is the balance between the Eulerian circulation acting to overturn the isopycnals and geostrophic eddies which tend to flatten them. Solutions for the stratification and overturning circulation are obtained by expanding the governing residual mean equations of motion in a small parameter (ε) which measures the relative strength of the surface buoyancy flux and mechanical forcing by winds. Our balanced asymptotic model extends and reconciles the earlier views on the dynamics of the (streamwise-averaged) ACC by demonstrating that the zero order balance between the eddy-induced circulation and the mean flow determines gross features of the buoyancy distribution in the interior of the ACC. The diabatic buoyancy fluxes are essential in driving the secondary (residual) circulation which is, however, largely steered along the pathways set by the dominant adiabatic balance. Model assumptions are supported by a close agreement of the analytical solutions and fully nonlinear numerical calculations. |
author2 |
Oceanography |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Radko, Timour |
spellingShingle |
Radko, Timour Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation |
author_facet |
Radko, Timour |
author_sort |
Radko, Timour |
title |
Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation |
title_short |
Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation |
title_full |
Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation |
title_fullStr |
Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Analytical solutions for the ACC and its overturning circulation |
title_sort |
analytical solutions for the acc and its overturning circulation |
publishDate |
2005 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10945/42124 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_relation |
Journal of Marine Research, 63, 1041–1055, 2005 https://hdl.handle.net/10945/42124 |
op_rights |
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States. |
_version_ |
1801383946109321216 |