Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Entry, Flux, and Exit of Potential Vorticity in Ocean Circulation

John Marshall Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Daniel Jamous Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Johan Nilsson Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Print Publication:
01 Mar 2001
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(2001)031<0777:EFAEOP>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
777–789
Restricted access

Abstract

The flux form of the potential vorticity (PV) equation is employed to derive simple expressions for the boundary and interior flux of PV in ocean circulation using Bernoulli functions. The formulas are discussed and physically interpreted and used to map the flux of PV through a model of ocean circulation.

* Current affiliation: Department of Meteorology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.

Corresponding author address: Dr. John Marshall, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Room 54-1526, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307.

Abstract

The flux form of the potential vorticity (PV) equation is employed to derive simple expressions for the boundary and interior flux of PV in ocean circulation using Bernoulli functions. The formulas are discussed and physically interpreted and used to map the flux of PV through a model of ocean circulation.

* Current affiliation: Department of Meteorology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.

Corresponding author address: Dr. John Marshall, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Room 54-1526, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307.

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Journal of Physical Oceanography

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