The cyclonic circulation in the Australian-Antarctic basin simulated by an eddy-resolving general circulation model

Flow structure in the Australian-Antarctic basin is investigated using an eddy-resolving general ocean circulation model and validated with iceberg and middepth float trajectories. A cyclonic circulation system between the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Antarctic Slope Current consists of a large...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ocean Dynamics
Main Authors: Aoki, S, Sasai, Y, Sasaki, H, Mitsudera, H, Williams, GD
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Springer 2010
Subjects:
Earth Sciences
Oceanography
Physical Oceanography
Antarctic
Australian Antarctic Basin
Australian-Antarctic Basin
Kerguelen
Princess Elizabeth Trough
Prydz Bay
The Antarctic
Weddell
Antarc*
Iceberg*
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-009-0261-y
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/71466
Description
Summary:Flow structure in the Australian-Antarctic basin is investigated using an eddy-resolving general ocean circulation model and validated with iceberg and middepth float trajectories. A cyclonic circulation system between the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Antarctic Slope Current consists of a large-scale gyre in the west (80-110 degrees E) and a series of eddies in the east (120-150 degrees E). The western gyre has an annual mean westward transport of 22 Sv in the southern limb. Extending west through the Princess Elizabeth Trough, 5 Sv of the gyre recirculates off Prydz Bay and joins the western boundary current off the Kerguelen Plateau. Iceberg trajectories from QuickScat and ERS-1/2 support this recirculation and the overall structure of the Antarctic Slope Current against isobath in the model. Argo float trajectories also reveal a consistent structure of the deep westward slope current. This study indicates the presence of a large cyclonic circulation in this basin, which is comparable to the Weddell and Ross gyres.

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