Dynamic Response of an Ocean to Atmospheric Disturbances

Abstract

A study is made of the dynamic response of β-plane shallow ocean to arbitrary and special wind stress distributions acting at the free surface of the ocean. The integral solution for the free surface elevation of the three dimensional ocean model is obtained by using Laplace and generalized double Fourier transforms. Special attention is given to the dispersion relation and the ratio of the Coriolis frequency and the frequency of the applied disturbances. The barotropic response of the Indian Ocean to onset of the Southwest consoon is described. An asymptotic analysis is made for the free surface flows to determine the ultimate steady state solution. The principal features of the ultimate oceanic response with and without β-effect are discussed. It is shown that the β-effect has dominant influence on oceanic motions.