Naslov
Cyclonic versus anticyclonic circulation in lakes and inland seas

Autori
Orlić, Mirko ; Lazar, Martin

Izvornik
Journal of physical oceanography (0022-3670) 39 (2009), 9; 2247-2263

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
anticyclonic circulation ; cyclonic circulation ; diagnostic model ; explicit solution

Sažetak
A simple diagnostic model, reproducing circulation in lakes and marginal seas in which low-density waters are found close to the coasts while high-density waters dominate the offshore areas, is developed. An explicit solution is obtained for the central transverse section of an elongated basin, assuming that the Boussinesq and hydrostatic approximations are valid and that the alongshore variability vanishes. The model reveals cyclonic circulation that may either extend throughout the vertical (flow type C) or may top anticyclonic circulation developed in the bottom layer (flow type C/A). With amplitude of the imposed density anomaly being fixed, the flow type is controlled by the frictional processes and by the basin dimensions. In a typical basin the flow type C/A is supported by weak bottom and vertical friction and by moderate lateral friction, unlike the flow type C that is supported by moderate bottom and vertical friction and by weak lateral friction. Strong frictional influence, especially in the basin interior, suppresses the flow everywhere. The flow is also suppressed in a basin that is narrow (of O(1 km)) and shallow (of O(10 m)), even without the frictional control being too strong. The basin that is narrow and deep favors the flow type C/A, whereas the basin that is wide and shallow tends to support the flow type C. The theoretical findings are related to observations, particularly those originating from the Adriatic Sea where the flow type C prevails but may occasionally be substituted by the flow type C/A, as well as to previous modeling results.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Matematika, Geologija

POVEZANOST RADA