Why western boundary currents are diffusive: A link between bottom pressure torque and bolus velocity

Ocean Modelling

Volumn 32, Issue 1-2, 2010, Pages 14-24

  Eden, Carsten ^a   Olbers, Dirk ^b  

^a GEOMAR HELMHOLTZ CENTRE FOR OCEAN RESEARCH KIEL   (Germany)

^b ALFRED WEGENER INSTITUTE FOR POLAR AND MARINE RESEARCH   (Germany)

Author keywords

Bolus velocity; Bottom pressure torque; Friction; Western boundary currents

Indexed keywords

BAROTROPIC; BOLUS VELOCITY; BOTTOM FRICTION; BOTTOM PRESSURE TORQUE; CLASSICAL MODEL; FIRST-ORDER APPROXIMATIONS; GYRE CIRCULATION; ROSSBY RADIUS OF DEFORMATION; SPATIAL SCALE; STEADY STATE; VORTEX STRETCHING; WESTERN BOUNDARY CURRENTS; WESTERN BOUNDARY LAYER; WIND-DRIVEN FLOWS;

BOUNDARY LAYERS; FRICTION; OCEAN CURRENTS; TRIBOLOGY; VELOCITY; VORTICITY;

TORQUE;

BOTTOM PRESSURE; BOUNDARY CURRENT; CURRENT VELOCITY; FRICTION; ISOPYCNAL LAYER; TORQUE; VORTICITY; WESTERN BOUNDARY CURRENT; WIND-DRIVEN CURRENT;

EID: 73849108136     PISSN: 14635003     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.07.003     Document Type: Article

References (18)

1. Andrews D.G., Holton J.R., and Leovy C.B. Middle Atmosphere Dynamics (1987), Academic Press
2. Eden C. Eddy length scales in the North Atlantic. J. Geophys. Res. 112 C06004 (2007) 10.1029/2006JC003901
3. Gent P.R., and McWilliams J.C. Isopycnal mixing in ocean circulation models. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 20 (1990) 150-155
4. Gent P.R., Willebrand J., McDougall T.J., and McWilliams J.C. Parameterizing eddy-induced tracer transports in ocean circulation models. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 25 (1995) 463-474
5. Holland W.R. Baroclinic and topographic influences on the transport in western boundary currents. Geophys. Fluid Dyn. 4 (1973) 187-210
6. Hughes C.W., and de Cuevas B.A. Why western boundary currents in realistic oceans are inviscid: a link between form stress and bottom pressure torques. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 31 10 (2001) 2871-2885
7. Marshall D. Eddy-mean-flow interaction in a barotropic ocean model. Quart. J. R. Meterolog. Soc. 110 465 (1984) 573-590
8. Munk W.H. On the wind-driven ocean circulation. J. Atmos. Sci. 7 (1950) 80-93
9. Olbers D., and Eden C. A model with simplified circulation dynamics for a baroclinic ocean with topography. Part I: waves and wind-driven circulations. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 33 (2003) 2719-2737
10. Olbers D., Lettmann K., and Timmermann R. Six circumpolar currents - on the forcing of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current by wind and mixing. Ocean Dyn. 57 (2007) 12-31
11. Salmon R. Linear ocean circulation theory with realistic bathymetry. J. Mar. Res. 56 (1998) 833-884
12. Sarkisyan A.S., and Ivanov V.F. Joint effect of baroclinicity and bottom relief as an important factor in the dynamics of sea currents. Akad. Nauk. Atmopsh. Oceanic Phys. 7 2 (1971) 173-188
13. Saunders P.M., Coward A.C., and de Cuevas B.A. Circulation of the Pacific Ocean seen in a global ocean model: ocean circulation and climate advanced modelling project (OCCAM). J. Geophys. Res. 104 C8 (1999) 18281-18299
14. Starr V.P. Physics of Negative Viscosity Phenomena (1968), McGraw-Hill, New York, USA
15. Stommel H. The westward intensification of wind-driven ocean currents. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 29 2 (1948) 202-206
16. Sverdrup H.U. Wind-driven currents in a baroclinic ocean; with application to the equatorial currents of the Eastern Pacific. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 33 11 (1947) 318-326
17. Willebrand J., Barnier B., Böning C., Dieterich C., Killworth P., LeProvost C., Jia Y., Molines J.M., and New A.L. Circulation characteristics in three eddy-permitting models of the North Atlantic. Prog. Oceanogr. 48 2-3 (2001) 123-161
18. Wunsch C., and Roemmich D. Is the North Atlantic in Sverdrup balance?. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 15 12 (1985) 1876-1880