Physics – Fluid Dynamics
Scientific paper
1997-07-27
Physics
Fluid Dynamics
9 pages with 2 figures to appear in Ann NYAS "Long range effects in physics and astrophysics"
Scientific paper
10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb08962
The structure of boundary currents formed from intermediately dense water introduced into a rotating, stably stratified, two-layer environment is investigated in a series of laboratory experiments, performed for Froude numbers ranging from 0.01 to 1. The thickness and streamwise velocity profiles in quasi-steady currents are measured using a pH activated tracer (thymol blue) and found to compare favorably to simplified analytic solutions and numerical models. Currents flowing along sloping boundaries in a stratified background exhibit robust stability at all experimental Froude numbers. Such stability is in sharp contrast to the unequivocal instability of such currents flowing against vertical boundaries, or of currents flowing along slopes in a uniform background. The presence of a variety of wave mechanisms in the ambient medium might account for the slower and wider observed structures and the stability of the currents, by effecting the damping of disturbances through wave radiation.
Meacham S. P.
Yecko P. A.
No associations
LandOfFree
Buoyancy driven rotating boundary currents does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Buoyancy driven rotating boundary currents, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Buoyancy driven rotating boundary currents will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-512059