Physical Oceanography.ppt

Physical Oceanography Outline Governing Equations (sorry about this) Geostrophy Ekman Dynamics Vorticity Circulation Patterns Water Masses Circulation Theories Regional Oceanography Ocean Factsheet Governing Equations Navier-Stokes The material derivative as modified by Coriolis equals the pressure gradient over the density and some kind of drag/viscosity. Conservation of Mass Governing Equations Hydrostatic Equilibrium The change of pressure with depth equals the density times gravity. The negative sign is a convention that applies when z increases downward. Equation of State Density is modified by thermal expansion and saline contraction. Geostrophy: Applies when the Rossby radius is small. Ro = U/fL, i.e. when Coriolis is important relative to inertia. Barotropic flow: isobars and isopycnals are parallel Baroclinic flow: isobars are inclined relative to isopycnals Quasi-geostrophy: even when Ro ~1, geosptrophic equations can be useful if vertical mixing is small and you look at timescales day in a stratified fluid. Ekman Dynamics: Ekman Spiral Ekman Dynamics: Coastal Vorticity: Potential vorticity = (planetary vorticity + relative vorticity)/height Potential vorticity is ALWAYS conserved Planetary vorticity increases poleward Relative vorticity increases when a) the water column is stretched b) shear from a clockwise flow Vorticity is positive in the counterclockwise direction Water Masses North Atlantic Deep Water: forms sporadically in convective cells in N. Atlantic. ~17 Sv Antarctic Bottom Water: forms in polynyas.-1.9 to .3 deg C, 34.7 ppt. ~17 Sv Antarctic Intermediate Water: 2-4 deg C, 34.3 ppt Ocean Circulation Patterns Ocean Circulation Theories Regional Oceanography: Currents Gulf Stream: 30 m/s @ Straits of Florida, 70-100 @ Cape Hatteras. Western Boundary Current (WBC) Brazil current: WBC, 4-20 m/s (WBC) Kurishio: WBC, 50 m/s (WBC) Agulhas: 100 m/s, goes around S. Africa. Antarctic Circumpolar Current: ~100 Sv through the Drake Passage Indo