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Homogeneous intrusions in a rotating stratified fluid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

A. E. Gill
A. E. Gill
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW
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Abstract

A study is made of intrusions of fixed volumes of fluid of constant density into a uniformly stratified and uniformly rotating environment. In particular, the eventual steady-state configuration is sought for the ideal fluid case. Exact two-dimensional solutions can be found using a co-ordinate transformation which converts the equations satisfied outside the intrusion into the Cauchy-Riemann equations. The same technique does not, however, yield linear equations in the axisymmetric case.

Effects of friction are also considered for cases where the quasi-geostrophic approximation can be made. Vertical advection by the viscosity-induced motion is shown to have the same effect on the temperature field as a greatly enhanced lateral diffusion, and therefore tends to spread the intrusion out laterally.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 103 , February 1981 , pp. 275 - 295
Copyright
© 1981 Cambridge University Press

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