Wavelike Baroclinic Disturbances on Shallow Upper Ocean Density Fronts,
Abstract
A theoretical development of small amplitude wave disturbances on oceanic fronts is presented. The prototype front is the inshore boundary of the Gulf Stream, although the model encompasses a wider range of applicability. This work is an extension of recent research by Garvine which showed the importance of dissipation near the surface front, and earlier work by Duxbury on large scale time varying inviscid flow regimes. A two-layer model is considered in which the lower layer is much deeper than the upper, lighter layer. The upper layer, including the frontal zone, is then dynamically uncoupled from the lower layer. The frontal zone that forms the horizontal boundary of the upper layer is divided into two regions, a smaller, inner region in which the flow is dissipative and depends upon interfacial mass entrainment and turbulent friction, and a larger, outer region in which the motion is inviscid. The boundary between these two regions is placed where the internal Froude number is of order one.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA076248
Entities
People
- Richard A. Formato
Organizations
- University of Delaware