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A generalized Ekman layer profile with gradually varying eddy diffusivities
Author(s) -
Grisogono Branko
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49712152211
Subject(s) - wkb approximation , ekman number , ekman layer , ekman transport , constant (computer programming) , eddy diffusion , thermal diffusivity , mathematical analysis , physics , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , mathematics , geology , turbulence , thermodynamics , boundary layer , computer science , oceanography , quantum mechanics , upwelling , programming language
The classical analytical solution for the Ekman layer flow has been generalized by introducing an assigned non‐rapidly‐varying eddy diffusivity K ( z ). Asymptotic expressions for the wind components u , v obtained via the WKB method retain the form and, to a large extent, the simplicity of the classical case in which K is kept constant. Three examples of idealized K ‐profiles are used to compare the numerical, WKB and constant‐ K solutions for Ekman profiles.