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Slope Control In Western Boundary Currents, Sang-Ki Lee, J. L. Pelegri, John Kroll
Slope Control In Western Boundary Currents, Sang-Ki Lee, J. L. Pelegri, John Kroll
Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications
An analytic solution is presented for the steady-state depth-averaged western boundary current flowing over the continental slope by combining three highly idealized models: the Stommel model, the Munk model, and the arrested topographic wave model. The main vorticity balance over the slope is between planetary vorticity advection and the slope-induced bottom stress torque, which is proportional to rv(h-1)x where r is the Rayleigh friction coefficient, h is the water depth, and v is the meridional velocity. This slope-induced torque provides the necessary source of vorticity for poleward flow over the slope, its simple interpretation being …