Abstract
The dynamics of oceanic bottom currents are examined both theoretically and in the laboratory. A class of similarity solutions for steady flow indicates that the geostrophic current is drained by Ekman flux at its downslope edge and ultimately extinguished at a downstream distance of order (fQs2gr)12 magnified by E−12. Laboratory source flows are found to be consistently wave-like. Nevertheless, certain gross features of the steady Ekman flux mechanism are observed. Instabilities are classified according to the magnitudes of Rossby (ϵ) and Ekman (E) numbers for the steady flow scaling. Characteristic were forms include: (1) a meandering jet (E 10−2). The dispersion relation for source flow waves resembles that of baroclinic instabilities for a uniform two-layer channel flow, and an empirically determined stability boundary is in rough agreement with the inviscid channel flow criterion. An interpretation of field measurements from the Denmark Strait Overflow in terms of the laboratory results is presented.
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