Jets of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Drake Passage Based on Hydrographic Section Data

Abstract—We have analyzed the fine structure of Antarctic Circumpolar Current jets in the Drake Passage based on CTD and SADCP measurements over two hydrographic sections in January 2010 and October–November 2011. Eleven jets with a local horizontal velocity maximum were revealed in 2010, and nine jets in 2011. These individual jets were various combinations of 12 jets of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which we revealed earlier in the region south of Africa. Satellite altimetry data available at http://www.aviso.altimetry.fr were also used to interpret the synoptic patterns of currents over the sections.