Types of dataset: Front products

DOI: 10.24400/527896/a01-2023.004  -  more metadata

Contents: 3 files containing variables to monitor the weekly position of the three main fronts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) - the Polar Front (PF), and the northern and southern branches of the Subantarctic Front (SAF-N and SAF). 

Use: Ocean large-scale circulation, climate

Description: The original technique, developed by Sallée et al. (2008), assumes that iso-contours of satellite absolute dynamic topography (ADT) can be proxies for the traditional sub-surface hydrographic definition of the main Southern Ocean fronts. A recent version includes updates with the following definitions :

• Polar Front (PF) is associated with the -0.30 m ADT contour;
• Southern (main) branch of the Subantarctic Front (SAF) with the -0.10 m ADT contour;
• Northern branch of the Subantarctic Front (SAF-N) with the 0 m ADT contour.

Tool: handbook ACC fronts

Geographic coverage: Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)

Distribution media: Authenticated FTP, Thredds Data Server (TDS) 

Condition of access: These are standard products as stated in the licence agreement. 

Citation:  When using the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) - fronts product, please cite “The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) - fronts product DOI: 10.24400/527896/a01-2023.004 was produced by CTOH/LEGOS and distributed by AVISO (https://www.aviso.altimetry.fr/) with support from CNES  [Data set] (v2.0).”

Copyright: 1993-2025 Cnes-CTOH/LEGOS

Reference:
- Sallée, J. B., K. Speer, and R. Morrow, 2008: Response of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current to Atmospheric Variability. J. Climate, 21, 3020–3039, https://doi.org/10.1175/2007JCLI1702.1