A Note on Rossby's Wake Stream Theory

Pierre Welander School of Oceanography, University of Washington, seattle, 98195

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Abstract

Rossby's (1936) wake stream theory of the Gulf Stream is revived and generalized. Including the β-effect, the volume transport of the Stream should increase faster than predicted by the Tollmien-Rossby formula, in agreement with observations. The idea that the Gulf Stream is forced by the pressure head in the Florida Straits, with the wind-stress curl at the higher latitude playing a secondary role, finds some support from observations.

Abstract

Rossby's (1936) wake stream theory of the Gulf Stream is revived and generalized. Including the β-effect, the volume transport of the Stream should increase faster than predicted by the Tollmien-Rossby formula, in agreement with observations. The idea that the Gulf Stream is forced by the pressure head in the Florida Straits, with the wind-stress curl at the higher latitude playing a secondary role, finds some support from observations.

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