Author: Ross P. Mitchell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : California Current
Languages : en
Pages : 136
Book Description
A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model is used to examine the response of an idealized, flat-bottomed, eastern boundary oceanic regime on a beta-plane to both steady and seasonally-varying climatological wind forcing. The focus of the study is the California Current System along the coastal region, from 35 deg N to 45 deg N, off the Western United States. With steady equatorward wind forcing, a surface equatorward current and poleward undercurrent develop. Eddies form around days 60 and 7 with initial development in the northern region of the domain. The strong meandering current continues to grow throughout the 360 days of model time and can produce eddies that have wavelengths up to 200 km and can propagate at least -200 km offshore. When the alongshore component of the temporally averaged seasonally varying climatological wind forcing is used, there is a weak poleward undercurrent and equatorward surface current. There is weak upwelling and very little eddy activity with the eddies only propagating to -100 km offshore. When alongshore component of the time-dependent wind forcing with spatial variability in latitude is used, a surface equatorward jet, poleward undercurrent and eddies are generated. The eddies form throughout the domain in this experiment due to a competition between the 0-plan effect and the continuous and stronger equatorward wind forcing in the southern portion of the domain. The eddies in this experiment propagate at least -150 km from shore.
A Numerical Study of Seasonal Wind Forcing Effects on the California Current System
Author: Ross P. Mitchell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : California Current
Languages : en
Pages : 136
Book Description
A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model is used to examine the response of an idealized, flat-bottomed, eastern boundary oceanic regime on a beta-plane to both steady and seasonally-varying climatological wind forcing. The focus of the study is the California Current System along the coastal region, from 35 deg N to 45 deg N, off the Western United States. With steady equatorward wind forcing, a surface equatorward current and poleward undercurrent develop. Eddies form around days 60 and 7 with initial development in the northern region of the domain. The strong meandering current continues to grow throughout the 360 days of model time and can produce eddies that have wavelengths up to 200 km and can propagate at least -200 km offshore. When the alongshore component of the temporally averaged seasonally varying climatological wind forcing is used, there is a weak poleward undercurrent and equatorward surface current. There is weak upwelling and very little eddy activity with the eddies only propagating to -100 km offshore. When alongshore component of the time-dependent wind forcing with spatial variability in latitude is used, a surface equatorward jet, poleward undercurrent and eddies are generated. The eddies form throughout the domain in this experiment due to a competition between the 0-plan effect and the continuous and stronger equatorward wind forcing in the southern portion of the domain. The eddies in this experiment propagate at least -150 km from shore.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : California Current
Languages : en
Pages : 136
Book Description
A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model is used to examine the response of an idealized, flat-bottomed, eastern boundary oceanic regime on a beta-plane to both steady and seasonally-varying climatological wind forcing. The focus of the study is the California Current System along the coastal region, from 35 deg N to 45 deg N, off the Western United States. With steady equatorward wind forcing, a surface equatorward current and poleward undercurrent develop. Eddies form around days 60 and 7 with initial development in the northern region of the domain. The strong meandering current continues to grow throughout the 360 days of model time and can produce eddies that have wavelengths up to 200 km and can propagate at least -200 km offshore. When the alongshore component of the temporally averaged seasonally varying climatological wind forcing is used, there is a weak poleward undercurrent and equatorward surface current. There is weak upwelling and very little eddy activity with the eddies only propagating to -100 km offshore. When alongshore component of the time-dependent wind forcing with spatial variability in latitude is used, a surface equatorward jet, poleward undercurrent and eddies are generated. The eddies form throughout the domain in this experiment due to a competition between the 0-plan effect and the continuous and stronger equatorward wind forcing in the southern portion of the domain. The eddies in this experiment propagate at least -150 km from shore.
Numerical Study of Interannual Wind Forcing Effects on the California Current System, 1980-1983
Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports
Curricula in the Atmospheric, Oceanic, Hydrologic, and Related Sciences
STAR
Government Reports Annual Index
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 1836
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 1836
Book Description
A Summary of Research 1995
Author: United States. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Military research
Languages : en
Pages : 588
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Military research
Languages : en
Pages : 588
Book Description
Seasonal Variability in the California Current, a Diecast Model Study
Author: Joseph R. Donato
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423555384
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 78
Book Description
The high resolution DIECAST ocean model, with improved physics, is used to simulate the annual cycle of mesoscale variability in the California coastal region. Model improvements include reduced numerical dispersion, an annual cycle of climatological wind stress forcing enhanced in magnitude near the coastal headlands, and barotropic and baroclinic boundary inflows and outflows. A six year simulation produced results in general agreement with recent observations of the annual cycle in the California Current although the gradients of sea surface temperature and dynamic height are generally stronger, and show more structure than observed. The stronger gradients indicate increased coastal upwelling and produced faster geostrophic currents than observed. A region of maximum Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE), originally formed in the upper ocean over the continental slope in late spring, migrates westward on a seasonal timescale consistent in magnitude and phase with observations. At the same, the EKE spreads vertically into the deep ocean, decreasing the surface EKE west of about 126 deg W. This result clearly identifies a non-dissipative process that can account for the pronounced decrease of EKE west of 126 deg W recently documented in the literature. Deficiencies in the simulation include some artificial influences from the incompletely open western boundary, an exaggerated response of the surface circulation to the Mendocino escarpment and the absence of a significant poleward surface current along the coast in winter.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423555384
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 78
Book Description
The high resolution DIECAST ocean model, with improved physics, is used to simulate the annual cycle of mesoscale variability in the California coastal region. Model improvements include reduced numerical dispersion, an annual cycle of climatological wind stress forcing enhanced in magnitude near the coastal headlands, and barotropic and baroclinic boundary inflows and outflows. A six year simulation produced results in general agreement with recent observations of the annual cycle in the California Current although the gradients of sea surface temperature and dynamic height are generally stronger, and show more structure than observed. The stronger gradients indicate increased coastal upwelling and produced faster geostrophic currents than observed. A region of maximum Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE), originally formed in the upper ocean over the continental slope in late spring, migrates westward on a seasonal timescale consistent in magnitude and phase with observations. At the same, the EKE spreads vertically into the deep ocean, decreasing the surface EKE west of about 126 deg W. This result clearly identifies a non-dissipative process that can account for the pronounced decrease of EKE west of 126 deg W recently documented in the literature. Deficiencies in the simulation include some artificial influences from the incompletely open western boundary, an exaggerated response of the surface circulation to the Mendocino escarpment and the absence of a significant poleward surface current along the coast in winter.