A time-dependent baroclinic model on NEC bifurcation |
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| Authors: | Fujun Wang Dunxin Hu |
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| Institution: | 1, 2, ** 1 Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China 2 Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and Waves, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China |
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| Abstract: | As it is well-known, the North Equatorial Current (NEC) bifurcates into the Kuroshio flowing northward and the equatorward
Mindanao Current, which is well depicted by Munk’s theory in 1950 in terms of its climatology. However, Munk’s theory is unable
to tell the NEC bifurcation variability with time. In the present paper, a time-dependent baroclinic model forced by wind,
in which temporal and baroclinic terms are added to Munk’s equation, is proposed to examine the seasonal variability of the
NEC bifurcation latitude. An analytical solution is obtained, with which the seasonal variability can be well described: NEC
bifurcation reaches its northernmost position in December and its southernmost position in June with a range of about 1° in
latitude, consistent with previous results with observations. The present solution will degenerate to Munk’s one in the case
of steady and barotropic state. |
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| Keywords: | North Equatorial Current (NEC) bifurcation time-dependent baroclinic |
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