Stratified Coastal Trapped Waves and Mean Flows
Abstract
Our long term goals are to identify the roles that rectified subinertial waves and mesoscale motions play in the mean-flow transport of fluid properties in the coastal ocean and to apply these ideas to cross-margin transport of physical, chemical, and biological properties. In addition, we are interested in the interaction and relative effect of wave-driven transport verses frictionally driven boundary layer transport. Coastal waves and wave-generated mean flows are studied in a stratified, rotating model ocean. Waves trapped to the coast are generated by time-dependent flow over a sloping and irregular bottom. In this study, we will study the rectified flow resulting from oscillatory forcing over a sloping bottom, both with and without additional ridges, and with and without stratification. Short-term goals of this study include quantifying the evolution of the vertical structure of the along-slope mean flow driven by non-linear interactions of the coastal trapped wave and damped by friction. The effects of stratification on the cross-slope overturning circulation will be examined to evaluate the strength of wave-driven mean flow verses frictionally driven flow.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA362722
Entities
People
- LuAnne Thompson
Organizations
- University of Washington