This thesis demonstrates that at low frequencies (periods longer
than 2.5 days) local currents off the coast of Oregon are closely
related to the wind. Wind and current observations made during
August and September 1969 are described and compared to demonstrate
that a relationship exists; the physics of the interaction is not
understood.
The data are described as functions of both time and frequency.
Spectral analysis shows that wind and current were related at frequencies
less than 0.017 cycles per hour and at the diurnal frequency;
at other frequencies they are apparently not related. The wind and
current were then filtered to suppress frequencies higher than 0.017
cycles per hour; they are shown as functions of time. Comparison
of the time series reveals certain features of the relationship between
wind and current. The current can be considered to be the sum of two parts: a "response" current, which is related directly to the
wind, and a "residual" current which is also variable. The amplitude
of the response depends on the amplitude of the wind and on the density
profile of the water. The time lag between the wind and the response
current was variable; on a few occasions the current led the wind.
Both the response and the residual current were generally parallel to
the bottom contours. The residual current seems to change during
periods when the response current is interrupted, so that short current
records are not indicative of the mean flow. / Graduation date: 1971
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/28924 |
| Date | 18 March 1971 |
| Creators | Huyer, Adriana, 1945- |
| Contributors | Pattullo, June G. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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