Modeling the Antarctic Circumpolar Current: A comparison of FRAM and equivalent barotropic model results

Abstract

Analyzing the FRAM simulations, Killworth (1992) noticed a strong tendency for self-similarity in the vertical structure of the velocity field of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). By assuming the self-similarity as a hypothesis, Krupitsky et al. (1996) developed an equivalent barotropic (EB) model of the ACC capable of describing the horizontal structure of the ACC. Compared to the multi-level-primitive-equation GCM, the EB model appeared substantially simpler and therefore useful in pilot process-oriented and sensitivity studies. In the present study dynamical and kinematical comparisons of the EB and FRAM outputs are given.