Measuring Westward Recirculation in the Subpolar Gyre of the Southeastern Indian Ocean

澳大利亚和南极洲之间的南大洋环流的传统图像显示了南极环极流（ACC），这是一个主要的向东输送带，邻近有相对弱的西向流。相对较弱的西进气流是ACC以北的反气旋或逆时针环流和ACC以南的气旋或顺时针环流的一部分。来自世界海洋环流水文测量计划的最新图像表明，存在一个强大的气旋环流，代表了南大洋一个偏远和未开发地区新发现的一般环流特征。伍兹霍尔海洋研究所（Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute）的海洋学家将在南极大陆斜坡上安装一个6系泊的海流计阵列和一个地下剖面浮标，以绘制这个新发现的气旋环流的环流图。此外，科学家们将使用系泊剖面仪来监测与ACC相关的密集水柱的流动，这些水柱沿着大陆斜坡下沉，并加入经向翻转环流的下降分支。这项研究的发现将解决关于南大洋环流性质的不确定性，并增强我们对全球经向翻转系统的理解。该项目还将影响气候变化研究，使科学家能够将拟议的测量与高分辨率数值模拟相结合，以提高耦合气候模型的性能。来自该提案的资金将支持一名早期职业科学家的发展，以及潜在的研究和英国博士生的培训。

The traditional image of Southern Ocean circulation between Australia and Antarctica illustrates the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), a dominant belt of eastward transport with a comparatively weak adjacent westward flow. The relatively weak westward flow is part of an anticyclonic, or counterclockwise, circulation north of the ACC and a cyclonic, or clockwise, circulation south of the ACC. Recent imaging developed from the World Ocean Circulation Hydrographic Program suggests that a strong cyclonic gyre exists, representing a newly discovered general circulation feature in a remote and unexplored region of the Southern Ocean. Oceanographers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute will install a 6-mooring array of current meters and a subsurface profiling float across the Antarctic continental slope to map the circulation of this newly discovered cyclonic gyre. In addition, scientists will use moored profilers to monitor the flow of the dense plume of water associated with the ACC that sinks along the continental slope and joins the descending limb of the Meridional Overturning Circulation. Findings from this study will resolve uncertainties about the nature of the general circulation in the Southern Ocean and enhance our understanding of the global meridional overturning system. This project will also impact climate change research by allowing scientists to combine the proposed measurements with high-resolution numerical modeling to improve the performance of coupled climate models. Funding from this proposal will support the development of an early-career scientist, as well as potential research and training for a UK-based PhD student.