A numerical study of wind forcing of eddies and jets in the California Current System
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Authors
Batteen, Mary L.
Haney, Robert L.
Tielking, Terrance A.
Renaud, Philip G.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1989
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Abstract
A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model is used to examine the response
to wind forcing of an idealized flat-bottomed oceanic regime along an eastern ocean boundary. A
band of steady alongshore, upwelling favorable winds, either with or without alongshore
variability, is used as forcing on both an f-plane and a, B-plane. In each experiment a wind-driven
equatorward coastal jet and a poleward undercurrent are generated. In time the coastal jet and
undercurrent become unstable and lead to the development of eddies and jets with relatively
strong onshore and offshore directed flows. The alongshore variation in alongshore wind stress
plays a role in determining the location of eddy generation regions. A comparison of model
results with available observations shows that the time-averaged model coastal jet and
undercurrent are consistent in scale and magnitude with the observed data. Although the
instantaneous eddies and jets are weaker than the corresponding observed features, they have
horizontal scales typical of the observed scales. The results of this study support the hypothesis
that steady wind forcing is one of several possible important generation mechanisms for eddies in
the California Current System.
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Article
Description
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Department
Meteorology
Oceanography
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Sponsors
This work was done in the Departments of Oceanography and Meteorology at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) under the support of the NPS Research Foundation for Mary Batteen, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for Robert Haney, and direct funding at NPS for both Mary Batteen and Robert Haney with ONR as the sponsor.
Funder
Format
Citation
Journal of Marine Research, 47, pp. 493-523, 1989
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.