Phased response of the subpolar Southern Ocean to changes in circumpolar winds

The response of the subpolar Southern Ocean (sSO) to wind forcing is assessed using satellite radar altimetry. sSO sea level exhibits a phased, zonally coherent, bi‐modal adjustment to circumpolar wind changes, involving comparable seasonal and interannual variations. The adjustment is effected via...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Naveira Garabato, A.C., Dotto, T.S., Hooley, J., Bacon, Sheldon, Tsamados, M., Ridout, A., Frajka-Williams, Eleanor, Herraiz‐Borreguero, L., Holland, Paul R., Heorton, H.D.B.S., Meredith, Michael P.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union 2019
Subjects:
Antarctic
Southern Ocean
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctica
Sea ice
Online Access:http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523502/
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523502/7/2019GL082850.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082850
Description
Summary:The response of the subpolar Southern Ocean (sSO) to wind forcing is assessed using satellite radar altimetry. sSO sea level exhibits a phased, zonally coherent, bi‐modal adjustment to circumpolar wind changes, involving comparable seasonal and interannual variations. The adjustment is effected via a quasi‐instantaneous exchange of mass between the Antarctic continental shelf and the sSO to the north, and a 2‐month‐delayed transfer of mass between the wider Southern Ocean and the subtropics. Both adjustment modes are consistent with an Ekman‐mediated response to variations in surface stress. Only the fast mode projects significantly onto the surface geostrophic flow of the sSO, thus the regional circulation varies in phase with the leading edge of sSO sea level variability. The surface forcing of changes in the sSO system is partly associated with variations of surface winds linked to the Southern Annular Mode, and is modulated by sea ice cover near Antarctica.

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