A numerical study of wind forcing effects on the California Current System
Authors
Vann, James R.
Subjects
NA
Advisors
Batteen, Mary L.
Date of Issue
1994-09
Date
September 1994
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model is used to examine the response of an idealized, flat-bottom, eastern boundary oceanic regime on a beta-plane to climatological average (1980-1989), individual year, and multiple year wind forcing. The focus of this study is the California Current System along the coastal region, from 35° N to 47.5° N, off the West Coast of North America. Two types of experiments are conducted. The first type forces the model from rest with climatological, 1981, and 1983 monthly winds to examine the generation phase of features such as currents, upwelling, meanders, eddies, and filaments. The second type continues the forcing from the previous years to examine the maintenance of these features. In the first type of experiments, the following features are observed: a poleward coastal surface current near the start and end of each year, an equatorward surface current, a poleward undercurrent, upwelling, meanders, and eddies. In the second type of experiments, meanders and eddies were already present at the start of the experiment. In addition to the features observed during the first type of experiment, filaments are generated. The results support the hypothesis that wind forcing is an important mechanism for the aencration of many of the observed features in the California Current System.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
212 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
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.