A CONTRIBUTION TO THE THEORY OF UPWELLING

Abstract

The equations defining upwelling are derived by considering a wind having both constant force and direction and blowing steadily and uniformly in a belt of finite width L parallel to an infinitely long straight coast. The sea water is assumed to be of uniform density. The effects of the earth's rotation are taken into account as well as the frictional forces caused by both vertical and horizontal mixing. An analysis of the equations which describe upwelling in a deep sea indicated a vertical circulation in the plane perpendicular to the coast as well as a coastal current parallel to the direction of the wind. A numerical example is included which indicates an upwelling speed of about 80 m/month for a steady wind blowing at 5 to 6 m/sec. The speeds of horizontal currents parallel and perpendicular to the coast were estimated to be about 1000 times greater than that of upwelling. The data suggested that the upwelling waters originate at a 200-m depth or more, a value which is in agreement with previous observations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 23, 1953
Accession Number
AD0003326

Entities

People

  • Koji Hidaka

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • California
  • Computations
  • Convection
  • Diagrams
  • Electronics Laboratories
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Hemispheres
  • Motion
  • New York
  • North America
  • North Carolina
  • Northern Hemisphere
  • Oceanography
  • Schematic Diagrams
  • Upwelling
  • Water Masses

Readers

  • Marine Hydrodynamics
  • Oceanography.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.