FY 1975

Development of a simplified diagnostic model for use in the interpretation of oceanographic data

Galt, J.A.

NOAA Tech. Report ERL 339-PMEL 25, NTIS: PB-247357/7, 46 pp (1975)

A steady state numerical model of ocean circulation is formulated to include geostrophic and Ekman dynamic balances as well as the effects of bathymetric variation. The model is diagnostic in that certain segments of the flow are determined from field data. In particular the baroclinic portion of the geostrophic mode is obtained from in situ density measurements and the surface wind driven layer is determined from wind stress data. The model solves for the required barotropic mode and subsequent bottom frictional layer that satisfies continuity and the assumed boundary conditions. The dependency of the model solution on input data and boundary conditions is discussed. For the case where bottom friction is not included the model reduces to a first order, ordinary differential equation that can be solved along characteristic (f/d) contours. For preliminary model studies this simplified formulation is recommended with a combination of moored current meter data and dynamic height calculations for boundary conditions.