Circumpolar Influences on the Weddell Sea: Indication of an Antarctic Circumpolar Coastal Wave

Abstract

The Antarctic circumpolar wave is now a well-known feature that can be detected in atmospheric, oceanic mixed layer, and sea-ice data. In this coupled ice–ocean model driven by 40 yr of daily atmospheric forcing data, it represents a significant part of the interannual variability, linking the sea-ice and water mass formation processes in the Weddell Sea with other areas in the Antarctic water ring. In addition, these model results show a decadal-period wavelike anomaly pattern near the coast of Antarctica, propagating westward at about 2 cm s⁻¹. This coastally trapped, bottom-intensified phenomenon likely has important effects on the dense water formation rate in the Weddell Sea and even the occurrence of the Weddell polynya.