![]() ![]() The physics of western intensification can be understood through a mechanism that helps maintain the vortex balance along an ocean gyre. ![]() Sverdrup balance and physics of western intensification Mathematically elegant figures within models of the distribution of streamlines and height contours in such an ocean if currents uniformly rotate can be found in the paper. Finally, on a rotating sphere - the case where the Coriolis force is latitudinally variant, a distinct tendency for asymmetrical streamlines is found, with an intense clustering along the western coasts. The streamlines exhibit a symmetric behavior in all directions, with the height contours demonstrating a nearly parallel relation to the streamlines, in a homogeneously rotating ocean. Such currents are observed to be much faster, deeper, narrower and warmer than their eastern counterparts.įor a non-rotating state (zero Coriolis parameter) and where that is a constant, ocean circulation has no preference toward intensification/acceleration near the western boundary. In this, Stommel assumed an ocean of constant density and depth D + h, emphasize the role of the variation of the Coriolis parameter with latitude in inciting the strengthening of western boundary currents. a variable surface height leading to horizontal pressure gradients.In this simple modeling the principal factors that were accounted for influencing the oceanic circulation were: In 1948, Stommel published his key paper in Transactions, American Geophysical Union: "The Westward Intensification of Wind-Driven Ocean Currents", in which he used a simple, homogeneous, rectangular ocean model to examine the streamlines and surface height contours for an ocean at a non-rotating frame, an ocean characterized by a constant Coriolis parameter and finally, a real-case ocean basin with a latitudinally-varying Coriolis parameter. The mechanics were made clear by the American oceanographer Henry Stommel. The principal west-side currents (such as the Gulf Stream of the North Atlantic Ocean) are stronger than those opposite (such as the California Current of the North Pacific Ocean). The reverse effect applies to the polar gyres – the sign of the wind stress curl and the direction of the resulting currents are reversed. Because of conservation of mass and of potential vorticity, that transport is balanced by a narrow, intense poleward current, which flows along the western coast, allowing the vorticity introduced by coastal friction to balance the vorticity input of the wind. This applies a stress to the ocean surface with a curl in north and south hemispheres, causing Sverdrup transport equatorward (toward the tropics). The westerlies blow eastward at mid-latitudes. The trade winds blow westward in the tropics. Western intensification applies to the western arm of an oceanic current, particularly a large gyre in such a basin. Examples include the Mindanao Current and the North Brazil Current. Low-latitude western boundary currents are similar to sub-tropical western boundary currents but carry cool water from the subtropics equatorward. Examples include the Gulf Stream, the Agulhas Current, and the Kuroshio Current. They carry warm water from the tropics poleward. Sub-tropical western boundary currents are warm, deep, narrow, and fast-flowing currents that form on the west side of ocean basins due to western intensification. See you there.Western boundary currents may themselves be divided into sub-tropical or low-latitude western boundary currents. There Is A Good Chance You Will Become Addicted. ![]() This is a Very Social And Very Entertaining game. We teach Beginners and we'll have you playing games in the first half hour of your arrival. Male and female, Seniors and young adults. (Double play allowed but only for Inglewood Pickleball group. LA County Covid-19 restrictions apply which includes Singles Play only, masks when not on courts and sanitize hands frequently. ![]() Arbor Vitae Street, Inglewood, CA 90305 Last updated Monday, Aug 24th 2020 ![]()
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