Laboratory Modelling of Oceanic Response to Monsoonal Winds.
Abstract
In a laboratory model ocean, fluid in a rotating tank a varying depth is subjected to various stress patterns which simulate both steady and seasonally varying winds, including monsoonal winds. For a certain range of the governing parameters (Rossby number, Ekman number and Froude number), a homogeneous fluid displays steady westward intensified flow. For the same range of parameters a two-layer fluid can have baroclinic instabilities. The parameter range for these instabilities is mapped in a regime diagram. The northward transport of the western boundary current is measured as it varies with imposed wind-stress curl, and is compared with the corresponding values in a homogeneous fluid. The conditions for surfacing of the lower layer is measured as it varies with Rossby number and Froude number. Finally a movie is shown of the response of a two layer fluid to periodically varying winds corresponding to southwest and northeast monsoons. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA078324
Entities
People
- Ruby Krishnamurti
Organizations
- Florida State University