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

利用高分辨率(1ﾟ*0.5ﾟ)大气环流模式进行了数值试验，以阐明南极绕极流的锋面结构及其在热量和质量输送中的作用。仅限于20ﾟ以南的模型海洋S具有真实的几何和地形，并且流动是由温度、盐度和风应力场的季节性数据集诊断驱动的。行政协调委员会的极地和亚南极锋面(PF和SAF)不在南极洲周围延续。它们表现为底部地形，如山脊和高原，而扩散到平坦的盆地。因此，这些锋面并不是热量和物质传输的障碍，相反，大量的水在锋面区域移动，以实现显著的热量传输。实验还表明，ACC的变异性在这些运输过程中起着重要作用。

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.