<p>The Antarctic Circumpolar Current keeps the warm waters away from the higher latitudes because Antarctica is disconnected from other land masses. This in turn amplifies the westerlies and therefore, polar front Antarctic Circumpolar Current prevent any warmer air/water to enter the high latitudes of Antarctica.[more on this: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Circumpolar_Current" rel="nofollow">wikipedia</a>]</p>

<p>During the Oligoncene/Eocene boundary about 32 million years ago, the Tasman Passage opened which gave rise to the onset of Antarctic glaciation [more on this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligocene#The_Drake_Passage" rel="nofollow">wikipedia</a>]</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-15T20:05:03.337Z
This answer will benefit from some editing and some expansion.
arkaia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-16T18:58:08.347Z
2015-04-16T18:58:08.347Z
makra
<p>An offshoot from the question <a href="https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/4589/how-does-antarctica-stay-frozen">how does Antarctica stay frozen?</a></p>

<p>Do the Anatarctic circumpolar vortex and circumpolar ocean current play a role in keeping Antarctica frozen? </p>

<climate><antarctic><ice><thermodynamics>
The Role of the Antarctic Circumpolar Vortex & Ocean Current in Keeping Antarctica Frozen
Fred
# The Role of the Antarctic Circumpolar Vortex & Ocean Current in Keeping Antarctica Frozen

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-04)

An offshoot from the question [how does Antarctica stay frozen?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/4589/how-does-antarctica-stay-frozen)

Do the Anatarctic circumpolar vortex and circumpolar ocean current play a role in keeping Antarctica frozen?

**Tags:** climate, antarctic, ice, thermodynamics


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-04-16. Score: 2

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current keeps the warm waters away from the higher latitudes because Antarctica is disconnected from other land masses. This in turn amplifies the westerlies and therefore, polar front Antarctic Circumpolar Current prevent any warmer air/water to enter the high latitudes of Antarctica.[more on this: [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Circumpolar_Current)]

During the Oligoncene/Eocene boundary about 32 million years ago, the Tasman Passage opened which gave rise to the onset of Antarctic glaciation [more on this [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligocene#The_Drake_Passage)]

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This answer will benefit from some editing and some expansion.  

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