Comparison of autonomous Lagrangian circulation explorer and fine resolution Antarctic model results in the South Atlantic

Davis, Russ E., Killworth, Peter D. and Blundell, Jeffrey (1996) Comparison of autonomous Lagrangian circulation explorer and fine resolution Antarctic model results in the South Atlantic. Journal of Geophysical Research, 101 (C1), 855-884. (doi:10.1029/95JC02538).

Abstract

The motions of eight Autonomous Lagrangian Circulation Explorer (ALACE) floats released near 750 m depth in Drake Passage and followed through the South Atlantic are described and compared with emulations made by advecting model floats through 12 monthly snapshots of velocity from the fine resolution Antarctic model (FRAM). Both ALACEs and FRAM reproduce the major features of the general circulation as follows: strong intermediate depth flow in Drake Passage, bifurcation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) passing over the Falkland Plateau, a strong Falkland Current, its confluence with the Brazil Current, and moderate zonal flow across the South Atlantic. FRAM versus ALACE comparisons are made in both the Eulerian frame and using observed and modeled trajectories. In Drake Passage, where float velocities agree with earlier observations, FRAM velocities are about twice too big. Both FRAM and ALACE velocities are consistent with an O(100 Sv) Falkland Current. In the central South Atlantic the few available float observations indicate the ACC and South Atlantic Current (SAC) to be more localized than in the model. Eddy kinetic energy is much stronger in the observations than in FRAM. Float dispersion in both the model and observations is due primarily to mean shear. Initial RMS particle separation of 100 km grows to nearly 1000 km after 1 year, but most of this is associated with floats that take different paths of the general circulation. The observations indicate that eddy effects are particularly important near the Falkland-Brazil Current confluence in allowing Antarctic Intermediate Water to transfer from the ACC to the SAC, from which they may enter the subtropical gyre.

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