The linear response of a two layer ocean model to a periodic wind stress curl in the presence of bottom topography has been investigated. For periods much less than the time taken for the wind generated baroclinic Rossby waves to pass over the topography (i.e. 'short' periods), the ocean response is primarily that for a homogeneous ocean and thus strongly modified by topography. For periods much longer than this time (i.e. 'long' periods), the Rossby waves compensate for the effect of topography and the non-topographic Sverdrup balance holds. For the Atlantic at 25°N, the long period limit is of the order of years to decades, so at annual period the non-topographic Sverdrup balance is not applicable. Variations in transport can be forced by a wind stress over varying topography, and by the passage of a coastal baroclinic Kelvin wave over varying topography. The relative importance of the above dynamical considerations for the Florida Current can only be determined from a model calculation involving realistic winds, topography and geography. Such a model calculation has been done with observed Bunker wind stress over a two layer ocean. The predicted variation has a Summer maximum and a Fall minimum, in agreement with the measurements of Niiler and Richardson [1973] and more recent STACS data. The one layer model has been forced by monthly means of ATOLL wind stress for the years 1981-1984. The predicted variation was found not to be in agreement with concurrent STACS measurements. A comparison was made between the Bunker winds and the ATOLL winds via various diagnostics. It was found that the meridional component of the wind, which is crucial to the overall Bunker Summer maximum, is of much reduced importance for the ATOLL winds. This could account for the lack of predicted Summer maxima.

The rôle which topography plays in constraining ocean flow is investigated in several ways, mostly aimed at application to the Southern Ocean where topography is known to be important. The physics of topographic Rossby waves is discussed in some depth and a description of ocean flow in terms of a sum of topographic normal modes is developed. It is shown that the apparent incompleteness of topographic modes can often be circumvented by including a function which absorbs the nett input of potential vorticity. Some subtle problems with this description are dealt with, and a calculation of topographic modes for the Southern Ocean is presented, which shows that the modes are very localised, making the use of them to describe basin-wide flows difficult. The effect of interactions between stratification and topography is investigated in terms of a quasi-two-dimensional model which deals only with the depth-integrated flow, and the assumptions which go into the model are examined in detail both analytically and by calculating terms of interest from a data set produced by the Fine Resolution Antarctic Model. It is shown that advection of density in the Southern Ocean can be described to a first approximation as being due to a barotropic current with no vertical velocity, the horizontal component of the baroclinic flow producing very little effect. The balance of terms reveals interesting features in the modelled flow in the Southern Ocean, showing the value of this type of analysis. Finally, insight developed in the course of the investigation allows a simple model to be constructed representing the feedback between density advection and forcing due to density gradients. This model is used to provide an explanation for the fact that the FRAM model spins up linearly, where most simple models would predict a component of quadratic behaviour in the spin-up.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1989. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Meteorology, 1979. / Supervised by Robert C. Beardsley. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-122).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Meteorology, 1979. / Supervised by Robert C. Beardsley. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-122).

The dynamics of the Arctic ocean are studied on a polar projection of the sphere. The density structure is idealized as a two-layer system, and a general formulation is developed which allows inclusion of latitudinal and longitudinal depth variations as well as asymmetries in the boundaries of the ocean. For simplicity, the density structure is neglected when depth variations are present. Time dependent displacements from equilibrium levels are assumed to be waves of constant zonal wave number; no radial propagation is considered. Amplitude equations are derived for these displacements, subject to the assumption that the polar basin is small enough to keep only a first approximation to the curvature of the Earth. A semi-qualitative investigation of the possible solutions is made in the case of a symmetrical basin, using the Method of Signatures, and existence criteria are found for the solutions in the presence of radial depth variations. Concentrating thereafter on planetary waves, explicit solution for such motions in the simplest case (depth constant, symmetrical boundaries) allows comparison with the results of other investigators (Longuet-Higgins, 1964 b; Goldsbrough, 1914 a) . It is found that the polar projection and first approximation to the curvature give quite good results, so that this method may be applied to polar regions in the same way as the β-plane is used in mid-latitudes. The general effects of radial bottom slopes are discussed and a simple example treated more explicitly. Some theorems of Ball (1963) on the motions of shallow rotating fluids in paraboloidal basins are found to hold for such basins in the polar plane approximation to the sphere. / Science, Faculty of / Physics and Astronomy, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

This study concerns on trapped Rossby waves and local Rossby wave packets in zonal basic flows with two or more prominent extreme values (so called multiple-jet flows). For simplicity, most of the calculations are performed on the f-plane, but an extension to the ß-plane is also discussed. Under the assumption that the basic fiow is a solution to a special type of second order ordinary differential equation, we show that then the amplitudes of stationary trapped Rossby waves are solutions to an equation of the same type. We investigate the occurrence of trapped modal waves as well as the rays of wave action radiation in a particular multiple-jet flow. Further we consider the development of the local wavenumbers of Rossby wave packets in such a flow, with and without a zonally oriented reflective boundary. lt is found that wave action can propagate in the zonal direction only when the boundary is present. Otherwise the rays of wave action radiation form a closed curve. / Diese Studie beschäftigt sich mit gefangenen Rossby Wellen und lokalen gefangenen Rossbywellenpaketen in einer zonalen Strömung mit zwei oder mehreren ausgeprägten Extrema (sog. Strömungen mit mehrfachen Jets). Der Einfachheit halber werden die meisten Berechnungen auf der f-Ebene angestellt, eine Erweiterung auf die ß-Ebene wird allerdings auch diskutiert. Wenn man annimmt, dass der Grundstrom die Lösung einer bestimmten gewöhnlichen Differentialgleichung zweiter Ordnung ist, kann man zeigen, dass die Amplituden gefangener Wellen Lösungen des gleichen Gleichungstypes sind. Wir betrachten die Bedingungen für das Auftreten gefangener modaler Wellen, als auch die Pfade der Wellenenergie-Abstrahlung in einer bestimmten Mehrfach-Jet-Strömung. Ferner untersuchen wir die Entwicklung der lokalen Wellenzahlen von Wellenpaketen in einer solchen Strömung, mit und ohne eines zonal orientierten reflektierenden Randes. Wir finden, dass sich Wellenenergie auf der f-Ebene nur dann in zonaler Richtung ausbreiten kann, falls eine solcher Rand vorhanden ist. Anderenfalls ergeben die Strahlen der Wellenenergie Ausbreitung eine geschlossene Kurve.

Ondas de Rossby do primeiro modo baroclínico em médias latitudes foram observadas em dados de anomalia da altura da superfície do mar dos radares altimétrico TOPEX/Jason-1 na última década. Entretanto, sinais similares são observados em dados de concentração de clorofila a obtidos através de dados na faixa espectral visível através do sensor SeaWiFs. Anomalias na concentração de clorofila que se propagam para oeste com períodos e comprimentos de onda característicos de ondas de Rossby, indicam que estas ondas induzem parte da variabilidade da produtividade primária em oceano aberto. O foco deste trabalho é o mecanismo de acoplamento físico-biológico causado pela passagem de ondas de Rossby e evidenciado pelos padrões regulares de aumento e diminuição de algas clorofiladas. Levamos em conta dois mecanismos principais: advecção vertical de nutrientes e/ou clorofila a e advecção horizontal de gradientes meridionais de clorofila a. No presente trabalho, nós investigamos esta influência através da correlação entre a anomalia da altura da superfície do mar (AASM) e do logaritmo da concentração de clorofila a (CChl). Foram estimados também a amplitude e a relação de fase entre ambos conjuntos de dados. Para tal, os dois conjuntos de dados foram interpolados numa grade regular de 1° X 1° X 9.9156 dias e selecionados com base numa máscara de continentes que exclui a presença de regiões com menos de 1000 metros de profundidade, ilhas e mares zonalmente fechados para permitir o uso de filtros digitais. Os mapas globais de ambas variáveis foram reorganizados em diagramas zonais-temporais (ou de Hovmöller) para cada grau de latitude. A cada um destes diagramas foi aplicada uma série de filtros bidimensionais de resposta impulsiva finita (FIR-2D). Estes decompõem o sinal de cada variável em bandas espectrais associadas a ondas de Rossby de período aproximado de 24, 12 e 6 meses. A estimativa da velocidade de fase (cp) é baseada no método da transformada Radon; a do período (T) e do comprimento de onda (L) é baseada no ajuste de mínimos quadrados de uma função senoidal. Correlação, fase e amplitude foram obtidas ao longo da extensão zonal das três principais bacias oceânicas (Atlântico, Índico e Pacífico) para cada grau de latitude. As latitudes selecionadas para análise apresentam diferenças nas estimativas de cp24, cp12 e cp6 baseadas na AASM e CChl estatísticamente similares com um intervalo de confiança de 95%. Foram escolhidas latitudes entre os giros subpolar e subtropical e na região central do giro subtropical em ambos hemisférios. Os resultados indicam que nas regiões entre giros oceânicos o processo de advecção horizontal de gradientes meridionais de clorofila predomina em relação ao de advecção vertical de nutrientes e/ou clorofila. Nas regiões centrais dos giros subtropicais a advecção vertical é mais propensa a acontecer em detrimento da advecção horizontal. Os resultados aqui apresentados indicam que as ondas de Rossby do primeiro modo baroclínico tem influência sobre a biomassa fitoplanctônica. Esta influência se dá por advecção horizontal ou vertical, dependendo da região oceânica. / Rossby waves of first baroclinic mode in midlatitudes were observed in sea surface height anomaly data from the TOPEX/Jason-1 radar altimeter in the past decade. Nevertheless, similar signals are observed in clorophyll a concentration estimates based on the visible part of the spectrum collected by the SeaWiFS satellite sensor. Westward propagating anomalies with periods and wavelengths characteristic of first mode baroclinic Rossby waves are evident in satellite--borne chlorophyll a concentration data and suggest that these waves are partially responsible for the primary productivity variability in open ocean. The focus of this study is the physical-biological coupling caused by the passage of Rossby waves, evident in the regular patterns of increase and decrease of chlorophyll--rich algae. We took into account two main mechanisms: vertical advection of nutrients and/or chlorophyll a and horizontal advection of the background gradient of meridional chlorophyll concentration. In this work, these mechanisms were investigated through the correlation between sea surface height anomaly (AASM) and the logarithm of the chlorophyll a concentration (CChl). The amplitude and phase relation between data sets were estimated. To this end, both data sets were gridded to a 1° X 1° X 9.9156 days mesh. A continental maks that excludes areas less than 1000 meters deep, islands, and zonally enclosed seas was applied to allow the use of digital filters. The global maps of both variables were rearranged into zonal-temporal (or Hovmöller) diagrams for each degree of latitude. To each one of these diagrams a series of bidimensional finite impulsive response filters (FIR-2D) was applied. These decompose the signal of each variable in spectral bands associated with Rossby waves with periods of approximately 24, 12 and 6 months. Phase speeds (cp) were estimated based on the Radon transform method; periods (T) and wavelengths (L) were obtained by least squares fit of a sinusoidal function. Correlation, phase and amplitude were obtained along the zonal extension of the three basins (Atlantic, Indian and Pacific) at each degree of latitude. The analyzed latitudes present cp24, cp12 and cp6 estimates based on AASM and CChl that are within the 95% confidence interval of each other. Latitudes between the subtropical and subpolar gyres and in the central region of the subtropical gyre were chosen for further analysis in both hemispheres. Results indicate that the horizontal advection of background meridional gradient of chlorophyll concentration prevails in relation to vertical advection of nutrients and/or chlorophyll a in regions between oceanic gyres. In the central regions of the subtropical gyres the vertical advection prevails over the horizontal advection. The results presented in this study indicate that the first mode baroclinic Rossby waves have influence over the phytoplanktonic biomass. This influence operates through horizontal or vertical advection, depending on the oceanic region.