Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T12:55:21.723Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Circulation in Antarctic waters as revealed by iceberg tracks 1972–1983

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Paul Tchernia
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris
Pierre François Jeannin
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris

Abstract

Between February 1972 and January 1983, successively using positioning satellites Eole, Nimbus F, Tiros N-Argos, movements of 21 Antarctic icebergs were monitored daily from radio transmissions; 17 of the bergs were followed over periods of 228–828 days through distances of 1600 to 8000 km (2000 to 5000 nautical miles, nm). Mean daily positions, calculated from several observations, were accurate to less than 5.5 km (3 nm) for Eole and Nimbus, 0.9 km (0.5 nm) for Argos. Grouped into three areas (Weddell Sea, Enderby Land to Adelie Land, Ross Sea), the trajectories cover four fifths of the continental periphery. Movements clearly indicate singular points along the boundary between the two circumpolar currents, the East Wind and West Wind drifts, and variations in the strength and direction of flow of these currents; submarine topography and other underlying causes are suggested.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Deacon, G. E. R. 1979. The Weddell gyre. Deep Sea Research, 26A: 981995.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lutjeharms, J. R. E. 1980. Retroflection: when the current turns. Oceans, 13 (4): 31.Google Scholar
Marr, J. W. S. 1962. The natural history and geography of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Discovery Reports 32: 33464.Google Scholar
Tchernia, P. and Jeannin, P. F. 1983. Quelques aspects de la circulation océanique antarctique reveles par l'observation de la dérive d'icebergs (19721983). Toulouse, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales. (Including in annexes three earlier publications of 1974, 1977 and 1980: obtainable on request from P. Tchernia.)Google Scholar