Question

Locations A, B, and C are located far away from the coast in an ocean with H=4000 m water depth and a constant density everywhere of ρ=1000 kg/m^3.
Location A is located at a latitude of φ=30oS and has a sea surface elevation of η=0 m.
Location B is located 300 km to the South of A and has a sea surface elevation of η=-0.5 m. Location C is located 150 km to the East of A and has a sea surface elevation of η=+1m.
[The rotation rate is Ω = 7.292 × 10-5 rad/s and the gravitational constant is g=9.8066 m/s^2. For simplicity, when calculating the Coriolis parameter f you may use the same latitude φ for all three locations. You may also assume that atmospheric pressure is zero.]

a) Sketch the locations into a map (top view) and sketch the directions of the geostrophic velocities perpendicular to the transects A-B, A-C and B-C. [N.B. Your map only needs to be approximate – you only need to show the relative positions of A, B and C.] (3P)

b) Calculate the geostrophic velocity between locations A and B, A and C, and B and C. [You may assume that pressure varies linearly between points A, B and C.] (4 P)

c) Calculate the volume flux through each of the transects A-B, A-C, and B-C. Express the fluxes in units of Sverdrups (1 Sv=106 m^3/s). [You may assume that the velocity through each transect is uniform along the transect.] (3 P)

d) What is the total volume flux into the area enclosed by the transects? (2 P)

Answer 1