Southern Ocean overturning circulation

The circulation that connects the Southern Ocean’s surface, deep, and bottom waters through wind-driven upwelling, water-mass transformation, and sinking around Antarctica.

Antarctic Circumpolar Current: The eastward current encircling Antarctica, driven by westerly winds and unblocked by continents. Its westerly winds help draw deep water toward the Southern Ocean surface.
Ocean stratification: The vertical layering of ocean water caused by differences in density. Stratification resists vertical exchange and shapes where upwelling and sinking occur.
Southern Ocean carbon sink: The net uptake and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the Southern Ocean. Upwelling and subduction regulate whether carbon-rich deep water releases or stores carbon.
Global overturning circulation: The interconnected global-scale circulation that exchanges water among ocean basins and depth layers. The Southern Ocean is the principal gateway connecting deep and bottom waters across basins.
Southern Ocean observing system: The network of satellites, ships, floats, moorings, and instruments measuring Southern Ocean conditions. Sparse and challenging observations limit estimates of overturning strength and its changes.
Southern Ocean upwelling: The upward transport of deep water into the Southern Ocean’s upper layers. It is the circulation’s principal route for returning deep water toward the surface.
Seawater density: A measure of seawater mass per unit volume, governed mainly by temperature, salinity, and pressure. Density differences distinguish the water masses involved in the overturning.
Ocean heat uptake: The transfer and storage of excess planetary heat in the ocean. Overturning pathways transport heat between the Southern Ocean surface and the ocean interior.
Abyssal ocean circulation: The movement of water through the deepest layers of the ocean. Antarctic Bottom Water formed in this region ventilates much of the global abyss.
Argo (oceanography): An international array of autonomous floats that measures temperature and salinity through the upper ocean. Argo profiles constrain water-mass properties, though coverage remains limited beneath sea ice and at great depth.

Linked from 4 pages