ESS228
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Sverdrup Transport
• Continuity equation
for an incompressible flow:
• Assume the
horizontal flows are geostrophic:
• Replace the
geostrophic flow pressure gradients:
• The continuity
equation becomes:
•Integrate the
equation from the bottom of the upper ocean (Dw) to the bottom of the Ekman layer (DE):
•Ekman pumping (ѡE) is related to the convergence of the Ekman
transport:
assume zero
•Therefore, we obtain:
geostrophic
transport
Sverdrup
transport
- (Ekman
Transport)
•Therefore,
Sverdrup transport = Geostrophic transport + Ekman transport