| Patterns of interannual variability of the ocean- atmosphere coupled system in the Southern Hemisphere ex- tratropics are studied with a simple dynamical model, in or- der to determine the basic physical processes of interaction independently of tropical forcing. The model used is an at- mospheric quasi-geostrophic model coupled to a "slab" oceanic mixed layer, which includes mean geostrophic advection by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The ocean-atmosphere coupling occurs through surface heat fluxes and Ekman cur- rent heat advection. In a fully coupled simulation, the atmos- pheric part of the model, which includes high frequency tran- sient eddies at midlatitudes, exhibits a strong Southern Annu- lar Mode (SAM) as the first mode of variability... |
