OCP-4005 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Geostrophic Wind, Walker Circulation, Gulf Stream

• School: FSU
• Department: Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science
• Course: OCP-4005
• Professor: A.Clarke

Document Summary

The ekman transport is 90 degrees to the left of the wind in the southern hemisphere. The transport must be to the right in the northern hemisphere. The force on the water due to the wind is balanced by the coriolis force. Coriolis force and the wind go in opposite directions. Coriolis force and pressure gradient force also go in opposite directions. A kelvin wave travels with the coast on its right in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere the coastal kelvin wave propagates with the coast on its left. No upwelling occurs to the south of a because the sea level. Kelvis waves propagate in one direction along the coast. Always: northern hemisphere: coast on the right. Ekman transport is offshore so upwelling is induced. High pressure along the coast so the pressure gradient force is offshore. Velocity of a particle underneath a sea level crest is in the direction of wave propagation.