The Wind-driven Circulation in Ocean Basins of Various Shapes
Year: 1950
Type: article
Abstract: The ocean circulation induced by zonal winds has been derived for a triangular ocean basin. The method, which involves the “boundary layer” technique, can be extended to a more general wind system, and to ocean basins of arbitrary shape provided the boundaries are not too irregular. In low and mid-latitudes the principal effect of an inclination, Θ, of the western boundary relative to a north-south direction is to widen the western current (Gulf Stream) by the factor (sec Θ)1/3 and to reduce the current intensity by a similar factor. A variation in the circulation pattern associated with the variation in the value of the lateral eddy viscosity is noted.
Source: Tellus
Authors: W. H. MUNK, G. F. CARRIER
Institutions: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Brown University
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W1983384153