Coupled dynamics of the Antartic Circumpolar Current and the Southern Hemisphere atmospheric annular mode

The large-scale dynamics in the midlatitude Southern Hemisphere is dominated by changes in the Antartic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and the atmospheric annular mode above it. An idealized coupled ocean-atmosphere model has been developed to illustrate the basic physical processes that contribute to the mean state and low-frequency fluctuations observed in the ACC transport and its implications for climate.

The effect of an oceanic diabatic planetary boundary layer in the coupled dynamics between the atmosphere and the oceanic meridional overturning circulation is explored. In particular, we examine the competing roles of the large-scale advection, the adiabatic geostrophic eddies and the diabatic mixing and entraintment in the transfer of properties in the oceanic mixed layer, and their interactions with the atmospheric winds.