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Western Boundary Currents

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Presentation on theme: "Western Boundary Currents"— Presentation transcript:

1 Western Boundary Currents
Simon Wake

2 What are they? Western Boundary Current West edge of ocean basins
Occur along coasts Current Moving ocean water Warm and fast

3 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

4 Western Intensification
Wind stress causes net Sverdrup transport to equator Conservation of mass and vorticity Counter flow towards poles

5 Effects Accumulation of water on west of basins Poleward heat transfer
Accumulation of water on west of basins Sloped ocean surface Poleward heat transfer Balance global climate

6 Questions?

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