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An experimental investigation of the spin‐up of a neutrally stratified fluid core
Author(s) -
Davis R. G.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/94gl01369
Subject(s) - inertial wave , ekman number , homogeneous , ekman layer , ekman transport , physics , mechanics , vortex , rossby number , core (optical fiber) , rossby wave , geophysical fluid dynamics , geology , boundary layer , thermodynamics , optics , atmospheric sciences , convection , wave propagation , turbulence , mechanical wave , longitudinal wave , oceanography , upwelling
The spin‐up of a homogeneous fluid in a rotating hemisphere with a solid equatorial plane has been examined experimentally. For the case of small Rossby number, applicable to the Earth, fluid is spun‐up by vortex stretching via a small order Ek 1/2 , where Ek is the Ekman number, vertical velocity induced by Ekman layer pumping. The experimental results compare well with the predictions of the linear theory of Greenspan and Howard (1963). Inertial waves generated by the impulse were observed and their frequency measured.