Hydraulic estimates of Denmark Strait overflow

Abstract

Upper bounds of the Denmark Strait deep‐water overflow from the Nordic seas into the North Atlantic are estimated using rotating hydraulic theory. The calculations are made for the real bottom topography of the strait and are based on hydrographic sections surveyed during a dedicated field experiment in the area. Results are presented for zero as well as finite (but constant) potential vorticity, and it is shown that the differences in outcome between these two approaches are only minor. The calculated interface configurations are found to be in good agreement with those observed, and the theoretically obtained transports conform with earlier estimates.