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Jets and Transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Drake Passage

Abstract

In December 2003, a hydrographic section across the Drake Passage was carried out by R/V Aka-demik Sergei Vavilov from King George Island to Tierra del Fuego with a Seabird 911 and lowered Doppler current (ADCP) profilers. A total of 25 stations were occupied across the passage from the surface to the bottom. The geostrophic water transport by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) above the bottom reference level is estimated at 111 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3/s), while the transport above the 3000 dbar reference level is equal to 97 Sv. These values are close to the smallest ones in the record of measurements of water transport through the Drake Passage since 1975. The geostrophic velocities are compared with the LADCP and shipborne ADCP measurements.

About the Authors

E. G. Morozov
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation

Moscow



R. Yu. Tarakanov
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation

Moscow



I. Ansorge
University of Cape Town
South Africa

Rondebosch



S. Swart
University of Cape Town; Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory
South Africa

Rondebosch; Stellenbosch



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For citations:


Morozov E.G., Tarakanov R.Yu., Ansorge I., Swart S. Jets and Transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Drake Passage. Fundamental and Applied Hydrophysics. 2014;7(3):23-28.

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ISSN 2073-6673 (Print)
ISSN 2782-5221 (Online)