A Numerical Study of the Effects of Wind Forcing on the Chile Current System.

Abstract

A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model is used to examine the response of the coastal region from 22.50 degree south to 350 degree south of the Chile Current System to both equatorward and climatological wind forcing. The results from both types of forcing show that an equatorward surface current, a poleward undercurrent, upwelling, meanders, filaments and eddies develop in response to the predominant equatorward wind forcing. When climatological wind forcing is used, an offshore branch of the equatorward surface current is also generated. These features are consistent with available observations of the Chile Current System. The model results support the hypothesis that wind forcing is an important mechanism for generating currents, eddies and filaments in the Chile eastern boundary current system and in other eastern boundary current regions which have predominantly equatorward wind forcing. (AN)

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1994
Accession Number
ADA289808

Entities

People

  • Chih-ping Hu

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Coastal Regions
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Filaments
  • High Resolution
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Military Research
  • Observation
  • Offshore
  • Potential Energy
  • Regions
  • Shores
  • Surface Temperature
  • Topography
  • Upwelling
  • Wind Stress

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography