Journal Article

The Impact of Parameterized Lateral Mixing on the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in a Coupled Climate Model

Gnanadesikan, Anand, Pradal, Marie-Aude, Ragen, Sarah

2020

Overview

Abstract This study examines the impact of changing the lateral diffusion coefficientARedion the transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The lateral diffusion coefficientARediis poorly constrained, with values ranging across an order of magnitude in climate models. The ACC is difficult to accurately simulate, and there is a large spread in eastward transport in the Southern Ocean (SO) in these models. This paper examines how much of that spread can be attributed to different eddy parameterization coefficients. A coarse-resolution, fully coupled model suite was run withARedi= 400, 800, 1200, and 2400 m2s−1. Additionally, two simulations were run with two-dimensional representations of the mixing coefficient based on satellite altimetry. Relative to the 400 m2s−1case, the 2400 m2s−1case exhibits 1) an 11% decrease in average wind stress from 50° to 65°S, 2) a 20% decrease in zonally averaged eastward transport in the SO, and 3) a 14% weaker transport through the Drake Passage. The decrease in transport is well explained by changes in the thermal current shear, largely due to increases in ocean density occurring on the northern side of the ACC. In intermediate waters these increases are associated with changes in the formation of intermediate waters in the North Pacific. We hypothesize that the deep increases are associated with changes in the wind stress curl allowing Antarctic Bottom Water to escape and flow northward.

• Publisher: American Meteorological Society
• Subject: Oceanography