Western Boundary Currents

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Presentation transcript:

Western Boundary Currents Simon Wake

What are they? Western Boundary Current West edge of ocean basins Occur along coasts Current Moving ocean water Warm and fast https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_current#/media/File:Corrientes-oceanicas.png

History Harald Sverdrup (1947) Henry Stommel (1948) Walter Munk (1950) Geostrophic flow, depth of no motion, Ekman transport Henry Stommel (1948) Rectangular ocean basin, constant density, friction Rotation varies with latitude Walter Munk (1950) Surface layer mass transport, friction http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/chapter11/chapter11_02.htm

Western Intensification Wind stress causes net Sverdrup transport to equator Conservation of mass and vorticity Counter flow towards poles http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/ess/Units/Unit2/u2L10aimage.jpg

Effects Accumulation of water on west of basins Poleward heat transfer http://oceanmotion.org/images/background/western-boundary-currents_clip_image004.jpg Accumulation of water on west of basins Sloped ocean surface Poleward heat transfer Balance global climate

Questions?