The local predictability of the El Nin˜o–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is examined by the analysis of the
evolution of small disturbances to an unstable 4.3-yr ENSO cycle in the Cane–Zebiak model forced by perpetual
July conditions. The 4.3-yr cycle represents the dominant near-recurrent behavior in this weakly chaotic regime,
so analysis...
The diffusivity dependence of internal boundary layers in solutions of the continuously stratified, diffusive
thermocline equations is revisited. If a solution exists that approaches a two-layer solution of the ideal thermocline
equations in the limit of small vertical diffusivity kᵥ, it must contain an internal boundary layer that collapses
to...
The influence of localized regions of intensified vertical mixing on the stratification and circulation in a large-scale ocean model is investigated with idealized numerical experiments. Numerical solutions are obtained of a closed-basin, single-hemisphere ocean model based on the planetary geostrophic equations. Mesoscale eddy effects are minimized, and vertical mixing at...
A simple theory is presented for steady geostrophic circulation of a stratified fluid in a rectangular basin with a circumpolar connection. The interior flow obeys the β-plane Sverdrup vorticity balance, and the circulation is closed by geostrophic boundary currents. The circulation is forced by surface thermal gradients and wind-driven Ekman...
Linear disturbance growth is studied in a quasigeostrophic baroclinic channel model with several thousand degrees of freedom. Disturbances to an unstable, nonlinear wave-mean oscillation are analyzed, allowing the comparison of singular vectors and time-dependent normal modes (Floquet vectors). Singular vectors characterize the transient growth of linear disturbances in a specified...
The stability of a time-periodic baroclinic wave-mean oscillation in a high-dimensional two-layer quasigeostrophic spectral model is examined by computing a full set of time-dependent normal modes (Floquet vectors) for the oscillation. The model has 72 × 62 horizontal resolution and there are 8928 Floquet vectors in the complete set. The...
Observations of oppositely directed, monthly mean alongshore currents and wind stress over the continental margin off the Pacific coast of North America motivate the theoretical examination of mean flow generation by topographic lee-wave drag. We formulate a barotropic model for wind-forced shelf-slope flow over variable topography. Our central objective is...
We formulate analytically and solve numerically a semigeostrophic model for wind-driven thermocline upwelling at a coastal boundary. The model has a variable-density entraining mixed layer and two homogeneous interior layers. All variables are uniform alongshore. The wind stress and surface heating are constant. The system is started from rest, with...
Satellite observations of wind stress and sea surface temperature (SST) are analyzed to investigate ocean–atmosphere interaction in the California Current System (CCS). As in regions of strong SST fronts elsewhere in the World Ocean, SST in the CCS region is positively correlated with surface wind stress when SST fronts are...
Two simplified ocean simulations are used to study circulation and transport within Nares Strait. The simulations are similar, except that one included a coupled sea ice model that effectively established a landfast ice cover throughout the simulation year. Comparison between the ocean-only and ocean-ice simulations reveals a systematic change in...