On the Dynamical Response of the Subarctic Front to Momentum Transfer.

Theoretical studies and numerical experiments of the subarctic front are conducted. The theoretical side of this research encompasses the determination of a stability criterion and the role friction plays as a dissipative mechanism. It is established that the phase speed of the first baroclinic mode...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Camerlengo,Alejandro
Other Authors: FLORIDA STATE UNIV TALLAHASSEE MESOSCALE AIR-SEA INTERACTION GROUP
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1981
Subjects:
Meteorology
Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
*ANOMALIES
DENSITY
TEMPERATURE
STABILITY
DYNAMIC RESPONSE
WIND
SALINITY
FRICTION
CYCLONES
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
SUBARCTIC REGIONS
*Ocean fronts
Atmospheric forcing
WUNR083231
Pacific
Subarctic
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA100326
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA100326
Description
Summary:Theoretical studies and numerical experiments of the subarctic front are conducted. The theoretical side of this research encompasses the determination of a stability criterion and the role friction plays as a dissipative mechanism. It is established that the phase speed of the first baroclinic mode is larger in a numerical model where a constant density jump between layers is employed. Thus, a smaller time scale is required to avoid the numerical instability caused by the violation of the CFL criterion. A numerical four-layer hydrodynamical model is implemented to investigate the role the atmosphere exerts on the dynamics of the subarctic front. The salient features at the wake of a strong cyclone can be summarized as follows: upwelling of 20 meters of the four interfaces occurs; the water remains upwelled for several weeks; the e-folding time scale of the vertical oscillations induced by the storm's passage is of the order of 10 days; a region of relative maximum convergence is observed in the lower layers below a region of relative maximum upwelling in the upper layer; and the long and cross-front velocity fields are in quadrature in time, with the cross front velocity lagging the long front velocity. With the exception of the cyclone's case, it is established that the effects of the atmospheric wind forcing are confined to the upper layer. These results are supported by oceanic observations.

Similar Items