The influence of eddy parameterizations on the transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in coupled climate models

► The volume transport of the ACC varies considerably across the AR4 climate models. ► The eddy-induced (or GM) diffusivity κ explains a large fraction of this variance. ► The sensitivity to κ is greater than to the zonal wind stress maximum. ► We varied both κ and the isopycnal diffusivity in long runs with a fast AOGCM. ► The sensitivities within our model and across the AR4 models are very similar.