Wind-Driven Transport at the Ocean Surface: Beyond the f-Plane

Explore wind-driven transport at the ocean surface beyond the f-plane in this 48-minute conference talk by Nathan Paldor at the Erwin Schrödinger International Institute for Mathematics and Physics. Delve into the evolution of Ekman's theory from its 1905 f-plane origins to its recent 2023 extensions on the β-plane and sphere. Examine how the inclusion of latitudinal changes in the Coriolis frequency introduces non-linearity and the equator's significance. Discover the β-effect's impact on water column trajectories, introducing wind-parallel drift absent in f-plane models. Learn about the application of the WKB method in resolving dynamics and the transformation to conserved pseudo angular momentum. Investigate the theory's extension to spherical coordinates and its implications for angular momentum evolution. Consider further applications to continental shelf transport, where bottom slope effects parallel β-effects. Gain insights into this complex fluid dynamics topic, presented as part of the "Dynamics of Planetary-scale Fluid Flows" thematic programme.