Topographic rectification in a stratified ocean

Abstract

Mean flow generation by oscillating currents is considered in an idealized stratified ocean with a corrugated shelf-slope topography. Numerical model results for near-bottom mean along-isobath flow show a general parameter dependence similar to that found with no stratification (Brink, 2010). Stratification, however, makes the interior rectified flow depth-dependent, and usually bottom-intensified. Scalings for both the mean flow and its vertical dependence are developed and evaluated. Two crude comparisons against observed mean oceanic flows suggest that the present results may parameterize the mean flow magnitude correctly.