Symmetry defects in single-gyre, wind-driven oceanic systems

• Main Authors: Crisciani, F., Furlan, G., Guidarelli, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Societa italiana di fisica 2000
• Subjects: 551.463 Onde (Include l'aumento di livello del mare in tempesta; le sesse) (Classificare qui le onde da vento) (Classificare le opere d'insieme sulle interazioni oceano-atmosfera in 551.5246) (Classificare l'azione geologica delle onde in 551.36); North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/13930/; http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/13930/1/ncc8299.pdf; https://www.sif.it/riviste/sif/ncc/econtents/2000/023/04/article/4

We explore some symmetry properties of the leading terms that constitute the solution describing the flow field structure in a wind-driven, bottom-dissipated ocean. Both the weakly non-linear and the highly non-linear regime are investigated. The main result is that the northward displacement and the westward intensification of the current system, which are typical of the subtropical gyres (for instance the North Atlantic Ocean), can be ascribed to an interplay between the symmetries of these terms. Moreover, a duality relationship allows us to relate the conclusions concerning one regime to the other.