Gregorio, S. O. (Sandy O.) (2011) Investigation on the dynamics of gravity-driven coastal currents. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Numerical simulations of buoyant, gravity-driven coastal plumes are summarized
and compared to the inviscid geostrophic theory of Thomas & Linden (2007) and
to laboratory studies for plumes
owing along a vertical-wall coastline (those of
Thomas & Linden (2007) and additional experiments performed at Warwick University). In addition, results of two new laboratory studies with different scales
for plumes
owing along a more realistic inclined-wall coastline are presented
and compared to an extended theoretical model from the geostrophic theory of
Thomas & Linden (2007). The theoretical and experimental results for plumes
flowing along inclined-wall coastlines are compared to the inclined-wall experimental studies of Avicola & Huq (2002), Whitehead & Chapman (1986) and Lentz
& Helfrich (2002), to the inclined-wall scaling theory of Lentz & Helfrich (2002),
and to oceanic observations. The lengths, widths and velocities of the buoyant
gravity currents are studied. Agreement between the laboratory and numerical
experiments, and the geostrophic theories for both vertical-wall and inclined-wall
studies is found to depend mainly on one non-dimensional parameter which characterizes the strength of horizontal viscous forces (the horizontal Ekman number). The best agreement between the experiments and the geostrophic theories
is found for plumes with low viscous forces. At large values of the horizontal
Ekman number, laboratory and numerical experiments depart more significantly
from theory (e.g., in the plume propagation velocity). At very low values of
the horizontal Ekman number (obtained in the large-scale inclined-wall experimental study only), departures between experiments and theory are observed as
well. Agreement between experiments and theory is also found to depend on the
steepness of the plumes isopycnal interface for the vertical-wall study, and on the
ratio between the isopycnal and coastline slopes for the inclined-wall study.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GC Oceanography
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Ocean currents
Official Date:	September 2011
Dates:	Date Event September 2011 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Engineering
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Thomas, Peter J.
Extent:	xxviii, 206 p. : ill., charts
Language:	eng

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