Modeling the Antarctic Circumpolar Current: A Comparison of FRAM and Equivalent Barotropic Model Results

• Published in: Journal of Marine Research
• Main Authors: Ivchenko, V.O., Krupitsky, A.E., Kamenkovich, Vladimir M., Wells, N.C.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: The Aquila Digital Community 1999
• Subjects: Life Sciences; Marine Biology; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/4554; https://doi.org/10.1357/002224099765038553

Analyzing the FRAM simulations, Kinworth (1992) noticed a strong tendency for self-similarity in the vertical structure of the velocity field of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). By assuming the self-similarity as a hypothesis, Krupitsky et al. (1996) developed an equivalent barotropic (EB) model of the ACC capable of describing the horizontal structure of the ACC. Compared to the multi-level-primitive-equation GCM, the EB model appeared substantially simpler and therefore useful in pilot process-oriented and sensitivity studies. In the present study dynamical and kinematical comparisons of the EB and FRAM outputs are given.