A comprehensive physical and dynamical picture of the Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent is presented. This is the first known attempt; to analyze an ocean current system on the basis of the totality of hydrographic and wind stress data available. The Equatorial Countercurrent transport is a maximum at its beginning near the western boundary and decreases nearly linearly to end with zero at the eastern boundary. Zonal geostrophic flow is substantiated. The source of the Fquatorial Countercurrent is the westward flow of the North Equatorial Current and South Equatorial Current. Sverdrup's theory of wind-driven ocean circulation is not valid for the Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent, as shown by use of recent wind-stress tables and by evaluation of the steady state equations of motion. Nonlinear acceleration terms need to be included for a solution of this system of flow.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1970 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Willia Richardson (Supervisor), Dennis Moore (Advisor), Pearn P. Niiler (Advisor), Russell Snyder (Advisor) & Abraha Fischler (Advisor) |
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