Field Observations of Upwelling Associated with Vortex and Considerations of Generating Mechanism of These Phenomena

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Fluid dynamical characters of the upwelling phenomena due to the coherent vortexes in the wake of the tidal currents behind narrow straits were examined by field surveys, theoretical analyses, and hydraulic model experiments. Field surveys carried out by using aero-photos at the Straits of Naruto, a typical narrow strait in Japan, show the existence and distributions of the upwelling flow regions adjacent to the coherent vortexes along free boundary layers in the wake behind the narrow strait. Theoretical analyses are made by using tornado-models to clarify the generating mechanism of the upwelling phenomena as well as their configuration. Hydraulic model experiments are also carried out by following two ways. Firstly, upwelling flow induced by a single line vortex is observed as the simplest case of estimating the effects of the sea bed roughness to the upwelling flow. Secondly, upwelling flow induced by the coherent vortexes along a vertical free boundary layer is observed under the conditions, with and without the topographical variation of the sea bed in order to estimate the topographical effects of the sea bed to the upwelling flow phenomena. As the results of these studies, the upwelling flow induced by the coherent vortexes along the free boundary layer in the wake is proved to play an important role in the violent vertical mixing process observed in the wake of the tidal currents behind the narrow straits where are contracted by both headlands, and the effects of roughness and the topographical variation of the sea bed are estimated.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: