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Direct observations of the Antarctic Slope Current transport at 113°E
Citation
Pena-Molino, B and McCartney, MS and Rintoul, SR, Direct observations of the Antarctic Slope Current transport at 113 E, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 121, (10) pp. 7390-7407. ISSN 2169-9275 (2016) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2016 American Geophysical Union
Abstract
The Antarctic Slope Current (ASC), defined here as the region of westward flow along the continental slope off Antarctica, forms the southern limb of the subpolar gyres. It regulates the exchange of water across the shelf break and provides a path for interbasin westward transport. Despite its significance, the ASC remains largely unobserved around most of the Antarctic continent. Here we present direct velocity observations from a 17 month current meter moored array deployed across the continental slope between the 1000 and the 4200 m isobaths, in the southeastern Indian Ocean near 113°E. The observed time-mean flow consists of a surface-intensified jet associated with the Antarctic Slope Front (ASF) and a broader bottom-intensified westward flow that extends out to approximately the 4000 m isobath and is strongest along the upper slope. The time-mean transport of the ASC is −29.2 Sv. Fluctuations in the transport are large, typically exceeding the mean by a factor of 2. They are mainly due to changes in the northward extent of the current over the lower slope. However, seasonal changes in the wind also drive variations in the transport of the ASF and the flow in the upper slope. Both mean and variability are largely barotropic, thus invisible to traditional geostrophic methods.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Antarctic Slope Front, Antarctic Circumpolar Current, circulation |
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Oceanography |
Research Field: | Physical oceanography |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
Objective Field: | Antarctic and Southern Ocean oceanic processes |
UTAS Author: | Pena-Molino, B (Dr Beatriz Pena-Molino) |
UTAS Author: | Rintoul, SR (Dr Steve Rintoul) |
ID Code: | 113778 |
Year Published: | 2016 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 22 |
Deposited By: | CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems |
Deposited On: | 2017-01-20 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-29 |
Downloads: | 129 View Download Statistics |
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