Open AccessA Dynamical Model for the Leeuwin Undercurrent
Author(s) -
Fabian Schloesser
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of physical oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1520-0485
pISSN - 0022-3670
DOI - 10.1175/jpo-d-13-0226.1
Subject(s) - submarine pipeline , front (military) , oceanography , geology , shore , pressure gradient , current (fluid) , density gradient , circulation (fluid dynamics) , climatology , physics , mechanics
Recently, Furue et al. explored analytic solutions to a dynamical model for the Leeuwin Current system (LCS) off the coast of Western Australia. Their linear, variable density, two-layer model reduces to a one-layer system near the coast. The circulation is determined by matching solutions in the coastal and offshore regions across the “grounding line” and displays many features observed in the LCS. However, it does not include a Leeuwin Undercurrent (LUC). Here, that model is extended considering an across-shore density gradient (front) caused by relatively light, tropical water being carried poleward by the Leeuwin Current (LC). As a result of including the front, the LCS circulation changes considerably; the LC deepens and strengthens significantly toward the pole, and the LCS now includes an equatorward LUC on the offshore edge of the LC. Differences in density and sea surface height across the front both contribute to the pressure gradient driving the LUC.