Abstract
The global ocean is so heavily density-stratified that forcing is mostly restricted to lie at or near its top and bottom boundaries. The general circulation is determined by mass, heat and momentum exchange with the atmosphere and the solid Earth. The primary conservible tracers, potential vorticity (PV) and potential density, are also forced at these boundaries, and yet it is difficult to assess the rate of PV influx from the other, more ‘natural’ boundary conditions. Here we argue that intersection of surfaces of constant potential density with the boundaries provides reservoirs of large PV, which can be tapped by the circulation. We concentrate on the bottom source, and use a new isopycnal numerical model to examine it. The sloping bottom of the ocean produces a broad region of PV reservoir, and it promotes significant change in both the interior general circulation and the structure of western boundary currents.
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Hallberg, R., Rhines, P.B. (2000). Boundary Sources of Potential Vorticity in Geophysical Circulations. In: Kerr, R.M., Kimura, Y. (eds) IUTAM Symposium on Developments in Geophysical Turbulence. Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 58. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0928-7_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0928-7_5
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