On the transition from non-linear to linear regimes in thehomogeneous models of the wind-driven ocean circulation

摘要

A homogeneous model of wind-driven circulation is investigated inthe dynamic regimes between moderate non-linearity and linearity. The smallnessof the inertial boundary layer width, relatively to the frictional one, poses the alter-native of an unrealistically low horizontal velocity of the interior together with anexaggerated depth of the motion or the impossibility to produce westward intensifiedflows. This discontinuity, of physical nature, between moderate non-linearity andlinearity suggests that the linear regime should be regarded as quite autonomous,which cannot be derived from the non-linear by suitably lowering the width of theinertial boundary layer with respect to the frictional regime