On meridional heat transport in the Pacific Sector of the Antarctic

Analysis of meridional heat transport in the Pacific Sector of the Antarctic [I] is developed towards a more accurate estimation of the meridional heat flux across the WOCE section S 4(P) (from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Pennell Coast), connected with the vertical water circulation in the area between this section and the Antarctic Continental Slope. A heat flux of 0.037 PW or 1.2 x 10(21) J per year, towards the Antarctic Continent, which has been obtained, could compensate the annual heat flux from the ocean to the atmosphere in this Antarctic area.