Variability of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and its role in heat and mass transports

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Numerical experiments have been carried out with a high-resolution (1ﾟ*0.5ﾟ) general circulation model to clarify the frontal structures of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and their role in heat and mass transports. Model ocean limited to south of 20ﾟS has real geometry and topography and the flow is diagnostically driven by seasonal data sets of temperature, salinity and wind stress fields. The Polar and the Subantarctic Fronts (PF and SAF) of the ACC do not continue around the Antarctica. They are manifested by bottom topography such as ridges and plateaux while diffused over the flat basin. Thus, these fronts do not act as barriers for heat and mass transports, instead a large amount of water moves across the frontal regions to enable a significant heat transport. The experiments also suggest that variability of the ACC plays an important role in these transport processes.