The eastward-flowing Antarctic circumpolar current (ACC) plays a central role in the global ocean overturning circulation and facilitates the exchange of water between the ocean surface and interior. Submesoscale eddies and fronts with scales between 1 and 10 km are regularly observed in the upper ocean and are associated with strong vertical circulations and enhanced stratification. Despite their importance in other locations, comparatively little is known about submesoscales in the Southern Ocean. We present results from new observations, models, and theories showing that submesoscales are qualitatively changed by the strong jet associated with the ACC in the Scotia Sea, east of Drake Passage. Growing submesoscale disturbances develop along a dense filament and are transformed into submesoscale Rossby waves, which propagate upstream relative to the eastward jet. Unlike their counterparts in slower currents, the submesoscale Rossby waves do not destroy the underlying frontal structure. The development of submesoscale instabilities leads to strong net subduction of water associated with a dense outcropping filament, and later, the submesoscale Rossby waves are associated with intense vertical circulations.

中文翻译：

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亚中尺度的罗斯比在南极绕极电流上波动。

向南流的南极极地洋流（ACC）在全球海洋翻转环流中起着核心作用，并促进了海洋表面与内部之间的水交换。在上层海洋中经常观测到亚尺度尺度的涡旋和锋面，尺度在1至10 km之间，并且与强烈的垂直环流和增强的分层有关。尽管它们在其他地方很重要，但对南大洋中亚尺度的了解相对较少。我们提供了来自新观测，模型和理论的结果，这些结果表明亚中尺度被与Drake Passage以东的Scotia海中ACC相关的强射流定性地改变了。不断增长的亚中尺度扰动沿着密集的细丝发展，并转变为亚中尺度的Rossby波，相对于东风急流向上游传播。与中等流速的罗斯比波不同，它们在较慢的洋流中不会破坏潜在的额叶结构。亚中尺度不稳定性的发展导致与密集的露头长丝相关的水的强烈净俯冲，随后，亚中尺度的Rossby波与强烈的垂直环流相关。