Meridional flow of grounded abyssal currents on a sloping bottom in spherical geometry

G. E. Swaters
2012 Advances in Fluid Mechanics IX   unpublished
A steady nonlinear planetary-geostrophic model in spherical coordinates is presented describing the hemispheric-scale meridional flow of grounded abyssal currents on a sloping bottom. The model, which corresponds mathematically to a quasi-linear hyperbolic partial differential equation, can be solved explicitly for a cross-slope isopycnal field that is grounded (i.e., intersects the bottom on the up slope and down slope sides). The abyssal currents possess decreasing thickness in the
more » ... direction while maintaining constant meridional volume transport and exhibit westward intensification as they flow toward the equator.
doi:10.2495/afm120281 fatcat:5vnsm5f2lnguzhbbz6wiemed4y