Lee Waves Break Eddy Saturation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current

Eddy-resolving ocean models suggest that the transport of Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) may be insensitive to increasing wind. This insensitivity is due eddies flatten isopycnals and compensate for their wind-driven steepening. However, eddy-resolving do not accurately represent eddy dissipation processes occur at scales smaller than model resolution, including lee wave generation rough topography. Using a parameterization in an idealized Southern Ocean, we show ACC becomes more sensitive wind when drag included. The sensitivity arises from dependence on bottom stratification. When stratification increases response wind, it generation, hence dissipation, As result, shear (baroclinic transport) drive stronger compensate.