Fine-jet structure of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current south of Africa

The extreme northern jet of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current

“…These individual jets are different combinations of merged jets from the 12-jet ACC structure. However, nine-jet structure suggested by Sokolov and Rintoul [2009] is not sufficient for the description of the structure of individual ACC jets.…”

“…Thus, dynamical Subantarctic Front becomes the Subantarctic Current (SAC), the Polar Front becomes the Southern Polar Current (SPC), and the South ACC Front becomes the Southern Antarctic Current (SthAC). Sokolov and Rintoul [2009] analyzed the satellite altimetry data and suggested distinguishing nine ACC jets, which are continuous in the entire circumpolar region. Gritsenko [2014a, 2014b] distinguished 12 simultaneously existing ACC jets south of Africa on the basis of satellite altimetry data.…”

“…Sokolov and Rintoul [2009] analyzed the satellite altimetry data and suggested distinguishing nine ACC jets, which are continuous in the entire circumpolar region. Gritsenko [2014a, 2014b] distinguished 12 simultaneously existing ACC jets south of Africa on the basis of satellite altimetry data. During a period up to six months these jets were stably confined to the same ranges of dynamical topography.…”

“…Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) in the Drake Passage is limited by the continental slopes of Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica. This geostrophic current is intensified by strong western winds and spreads to a depth of up to 2500 m [Koshlyakov et al, 2013;Tarakanov, 2012]. In the northern periphery of the ACC the current spreads not deeper that 1000-1500 m [Tarakanov, 2012].…”

“…This geostrophic current is intensified by strong western winds and spreads to a depth of up to 2500 m [Koshlyakov et al, 2013;Tarakanov, 2012]. In the northern periphery of the ACC the current spreads not deeper that 1000-1500 m [Tarakanov, 2012]. The ACC has an equivalent-barotropic structure [Killworth and Hughes, 2002], i.e.…”