Open AccessCoriolis effects and the thermal bar
Author(s) -
Farrow Duncan E.,
McDonald N. Robb
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jc000727
Subject(s) - bar (unit) , inertia , thermal , thermal inertia , inertial frame of reference , mechanics , limit (mathematics) , inertial wave , physics , classical mechanics , thermodynamics , meteorology , mathematics , mathematical analysis , optics , mechanical wave , longitudinal wave , wave propagation
A model for the thermal bar system in the rotating frame that includes unsteady inertia is formulated. Asymptotic solutions are found to the initial value problem in the frictionless, small bottom slope limit. These solutions include inertial oscillations that are significant enough to reverse the circulation ahead of the thermal bar. These asymptotic solutions are compared with numerical solutions of the full model that includes friction. The consequences of both sets of results on the thermal bar in lakes is discussed.