A numerical study of time-dependent wind forcing off the west coast of Portugal, 1987-1988
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Author
Buss, Stephen L.
Date
1991-06Advisor
Batteen, Mary L.
Second Reader
Nelson, Craig S
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A process-oriented study of time-dependent wind forcing is conducted using a ten-layer (B)-plane, positive ocean model to provide insight into mesoscale eddy generation and duration off the west coast of Portugal from 1987 to 1988. The wind forcing used was derived from synoptic surface pressure analyses off Lisbon, Portugal. Results obtained show that eddies generated during the coastal upwelling season (generally occurring during the spring and summer) decay during the winter. Only cyclonic eddies form during the 1987 and 1988 upwelling seasons. The eddies are generated through a combination of barotropic and baroclinic instability mechanisms. Since the wind forcing of the five-month long 1987 upwelling season, eddy characteristics appear to be more influenced by the characteristics (e.g., intensity, duration and frequency of occurrence) of the wind forcing than by the total length of the upwelling season. This study affirms the importance of wind stress forcing to the overall surface circulation and eddy generation in the coastal regime off the west coast of Portugal.
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Funded by Naval Postgraduate School
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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.NPS Report Number
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