140
E.V. Stanev and X. Lu
Fig. 5.6 Schematic
representation of inflows and
outflows. This figure gives an
idea of only some of the
processes tackled in this
review, such as clockwise
rotation of surface current,
deflection to the right of the
gravity current, generation of
instabilities on the interface
in the regions of sills.
Topography and coastline are
schematic and are composed
of elements characteristic for
the straits considered further
in text. Courtesy Gerhard
Gayer
The unifying feature for the three basins, which is water and salt exchanges
through straits (Fig. 5.6), is put in the focus of this review. A basic problem in this
area of research is the gap between fine resolution process modelling in the straits
and outflow areas (Özgökmen et al. 2004), theoretical understanding (Price et al.
1993; Price and Baringer 1994) and valuable new observations (Jarosz et al. 2011)
on one side, and advanced basin-scale numerical modelling on the other. The coupling of detailed models of straits with basin-wide models is still underdeveloped
and demands future studies.
Another motivation for this review is to provide an extensive list of references
informing students and beginners in the oceanography of the European seas about
important publications and the state-of-the-art research. The chapter is structured in
the following way: In Sect. 5.2 theoretical, observational and numerical modelling
aspects of the straits’ dynamics are presented, followed in Sect. 5.3 by a presentation
of the basic development of numerical modelling of the thermohaline circulation in
the three basins. Brief conclusions and perspectives for future development are put
at the end.
5.2 Straits
5.2.1 Theoretical Considerations
The hydraulic processes which dominate straits’ dynamics can be easily understood
in terms of two-layer exchange. The theory of internal hydraulics assumes that the
flow is steady, inviscid, nonrotating, and hydrostatic. The dynamics in such systems
is controlled by the Froude numbers F 1 and F 2 :
F
2
i =
u 2
i
g h i
,
(5.1)
E.V. Stanev and X. Lu
Fig. 5.6 Schematic
representation of inflows and
outflows. This figure gives an
idea of only some of the
processes tackled in this
review, such as clockwise
rotation of surface current,
deflection to the right of the
gravity current, generation of
instabilities on the interface
in the regions of sills.
Topography and coastline are
schematic and are composed
of elements characteristic for
the straits considered further
in text. Courtesy Gerhard
Gayer
The unifying feature for the three basins, which is water and salt exchanges
through straits (Fig. 5.6), is put in the focus of this review. A basic problem in this
area of research is the gap between fine resolution process modelling in the straits
and outflow areas (Özgökmen et al. 2004), theoretical understanding (Price et al.
1993; Price and Baringer 1994) and valuable new observations (Jarosz et al. 2011)
on one side, and advanced basin-scale numerical modelling on the other. The coupling of detailed models of straits with basin-wide models is still underdeveloped
and demands future studies.
Another motivation for this review is to provide an extensive list of references
informing students and beginners in the oceanography of the European seas about
important publications and the state-of-the-art research. The chapter is structured in
the following way: In Sect. 5.2 theoretical, observational and numerical modelling
aspects of the straits’ dynamics are presented, followed in Sect. 5.3 by a presentation
of the basic development of numerical modelling of the thermohaline circulation in
the three basins. Brief conclusions and perspectives for future development are put
at the end.
5.2 Straits
5.2.1 Theoretical Considerations
The hydraulic processes which dominate straits’ dynamics can be easily understood
in terms of two-layer exchange. The theory of internal hydraulics assumes that the
flow is steady, inviscid, nonrotating, and hydrostatic. The dynamics in such systems
is controlled by the Froude numbers F 1 and F 2 :
F
2
i =
u 2
i
g h i
,
(5.1)