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Wind‐driven, steady flows in Lake Superior 1
Author(s) -
Lien S. L.,
Hoopes J. A.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1978.23.1.0091
Subject(s) - mechanics , turbulence modeling , hydrostatic equilibrium , inflow , wind stress , geology , slip (aerodynamics) , outflow , turbulence , wind speed , equations of motion , meteorology , physics , classical mechanics , atmospheric sciences , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
The wind‐induced, steady state circulations in Lake Superior were investigated by use of both mathematical and physical models. The mathematical model was developed from the equations of motion, assuming a homogeneous lake, negligible nonlinear accelerations, constant Coriolis force, hydrostatic pressure distribution, negligible horizontal turbulent shear stresses, and constant vertical eddy viscosity. With these assumptions, the equations of motion were solved analytically to give expressions for the velocities in terms of position in lake, wind stress, water surface slopes, depth, vertical eddy viscosity, and bottom condition (i.e. no‐slip or slip). Water surface slopes were obtained from a numerical solution to the vertically integrated equations of motion, expressed in terms of a mass transport stream function and subject to appropriate wind stress and inflow‐outflow conditions. Two‐ and three‐dimensional velocity fields were obtained for uniform and curl wind stress distributions, for constant (average) and actual (variable) depth conditions, and for slip and no‐slip on bottom. Laboratory experiments on the wind‐generated circulation were conducted in a rotating, vertically distorted model of Lake Superior. Surface current patterns were obtained for steady, westerly winds that were constant in magnitude (uniform) over the lake and that had a constant curl (speeds decreased linearly from south to north) over the lake. The laboratory circulation patterns are in reasonable agreement with results from the numerical model.