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| Version | Summary | Created by | Modification | Content Size | Created at | Operation |
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| 1 | Camila Xu | -- | 1806 | 2022-10-08 05:39:57 |
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File:Thermohaline Circulation using Improved Flow Field.ogv The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is an ocean current that flows clockwise (as seen from the South Pole) from west to east around Antarctica. An alternative name for the ACC is the West Wind Drift. The ACC is the dominant circulation feature of the Southern Ocean and has a mean transport estimated at 100-150 Sverdrups (Sv, million m³/s), or possibly even higher, making it the largest ocean current. The current is circumpolar due to the lack of any landmass connecting with Antarctica and this keeps warm ocean waters away from Antarctica, enabling that continent to maintain its huge ice sheet. Associated with the Circumpolar Current is the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold Antarctic waters meet the warmer waters of the subantarctic, creating a zone of upwelling nutrients. These nurture high levels of phytoplankton with associated copepods and krill, and resultant foodchains supporting fish, whales, seals, penguins, albatrosses, and a wealth of other species. The ACC has been known to sailors for centuries; it greatly speeds up any travel from west to east, but makes sailing extremely difficult from east to west, although this is mostly due to the prevailing westerly winds. Jack London's story "Make Westing" and the circumstances preceding the mutiny on the Bounty poignantly illustrate the difficulty it caused for mariners seeking to round Cape Horn westbound on the clipper ship route from New York to California. The eastbound clipper route, which is the fastest sailing route around the world, follows the ACC around three continental capes – Cape Agulhas (Africa), South East Cape (Australia), and Cape Horn (South America). The current creates the Ross and Weddell gyres.
References
- Stewart 2007
- Orsi, Whitworth & Nowlin 1995, Introduction, p.641
- "Explorers marvel at 'Brittlestar City' on seamount in powerful current swirling around Antarctica". 18 May 2008. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/coml-ema051208.php. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- Connolley 2002
- Hassold et al. 2009
- Barker et al. 2007
- Siegert et al. 2008
- Stott 2011, See "Ancient Current Systems" illustrations at bottom of page
- Geerts 1998
- Miller 2004, p. 219
- Peloquin & Smith 2007
- "The Southern Ocean". GES DISC: Goddard Earth Sciences, Data & Information Services Center. May 2012. http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/education-and-outreach/additional/science-focus/locus/tutorials/module6.shtml. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- Knox 2007, p. 23
- Peck et al. 2010
- O'Hara, Rowden & Williams 2008
- Rintoul, Hughes & Olbers 2001, e.g. p. 271
- Glover et al. 2013
