Stern Melvin E.

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Stern
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Melvin E.
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  • Book
    The electrical field induced by ocean currents and waves, with applications to the method of towed electrodes
    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1954-11) Longuet-Higgins, M. S. ; Stern, Melvin E. ; Stommel, Henry M.
    The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature of the electrical field induced in the ocean by particular types of velocity distribution. It is believed that these examples will be helpful in the interpretation of measurements by towed electrodes in the sea. The electrical field induced by waves and tidal streams, originally predicted by Faraday (1832), was first measured experimentally by Young, Gerrard and Jevons (1920), who used both moored and towed electrodes in their observations. Recently, the technique of towed electrodes has been developed by von Arx (1950, 1951) and others into a useful means of detecting water movements in the deep ocean. While the method has been increasingly used, the problem of interpreting the measurements in terms of water movements has become of great importance. Two of the present authors have made theoretical studies (Longuet-Higgins 1949, Stommel 1948) dealing with certain cases of velocity fields, and Malkus and Stern (1952) have proved some important integral theorems. There seems, however, to be a need for a more extended discussion of the principles underlying the method, and for the computation of additional illustrative examples. This is all the more desirable since some of the theoretical discussions published previously have been misleading.
  • Technical Report
    Summer study program in geophysical fluid dynamics : order and disorder in turbulent shear flow
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1986-12) Stern, Melvin E.
    Our thanks go to Martin Landahl for his stimulating expository lectures on recent development in "lab scale" turbulent flow. This subject was covered by him and other staff members from the experimental, analytic, and numerical point of view. The seminars on two-dimensional coherent structures provided a nice connecting link for subsequent lectures on large scale ocean eddy dynamics (e.g. warm core rings detaching from the Gulf Stream).
  • Article
    Propagation of a finite-amplitude potential vorticity front along the wall of a stratified fluid
    (Cambridge University Press, 2002-10-10) Stern, Melvin E. ; Helfrich, Karl R.
    A similarity solution to the long-wave shallow-water equations is obtained for a density current (reduced gravity = g[prime prime or minute], Coriolis parameter = f) propagating alongshore (y = 0). The potential vorticity q = f/H1 is uniform in [minus sign][infty infinity] < x [less-than-or-eq, slant] xnose(t), 0 < y [less-than-or-eq, slant] L(x, t), and the nose of this advancing potential vorticity front displaces fluid of greater q = f/H0, which is located at L < y < [infty infinity]. If L0 = L([minus sign][infty infinity], t), the nose point with L(xnose(t), t) = 0 moves with velocity Unose = [surd radical]g[prime prime or minute]H0 [phi], where [phi] is a function of H1/H0, f2L20/g[prime prime or minute]H0. The assumptions made in the similarity theory are verified by an initial value solution of the complete reduced-gravity shallow-water equations. The latter also reveal the new effect of a Kelvin shock wave colliding with a potential vorticity front, as is confirmed by a laboratory experiment. Also confirmed is the expansion wave structure of the intrusion, but the observed values of Unose are only in qualitative agreement; the difference is attributed to the presence of small-scale (non-hydrostatic) turbulence in the laboratory experiment but not in the numerical solutions.
  • Technical Report
    The 1962 Summer Program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1962-11) Stern, Melvin E.
  • Technical Report
    1979 summer study program in geophysical fluid dynamics : the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution : notes on polar oceanography
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1979-11) Stern, Melvin E. ; Mellor, Florence K.
    The emphasis in this year's GFD program has been somewhat different from the past. We have tried to expose a theoretically oriented audience to the new body of observations pertaining to the Arctic and Antarctic circulation. We have, however, not departed from our traditional goal of encouraging broad based inquiries into the field of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. We would like to believe that the breadth of interest and enthusiasm exhibited in these reports will stimulate future work in Polar Oceanography and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Technical Report
    Notes on the 1962 Summer Study Program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1962) Stern, Melvin E. ; Thayer, Mary C.
  • Technical Report
    Summer study program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics : baroclinic instability and ocean fronts
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1983-11) Stern, Melvin E. ; Mellor, Florence K.
    "Baroclinic instability as the largest scale of motion participating in the cross frontal oceanic transport process" was the theme of the 25th summer program at G.F.D. Killworth (Cambridge University) reviewed classical baroclinic instability theory, leading up to recent studies in which the distinctive structure of an ocean front is included. Finite amplitude baroclinic instability in the classical model was discussed by Pedlosky (WHOI). Laboratory experiments on baroclinic frontal theory was surveyed by Griffiths (Australian National University). The different kinds of oceanic fronts were surveyed by Joyce (WHOI), and additional observations were supplied by several of the invited staff. The smallest scales of motion relevant to the cross-frontal transfer problem were discussed from the oceanic standpoint by Osborn (Naval Postgraduate School) and from the point of view of laboratory experiments by Ruddick (Dalhousie University), among others.