Linear Theories — Viscous 



91 



The height contours are computed by integration of the primitive 

 equations and are plotted in fig. 56. The general features of the nonrotating, 

 wind-driven system constitute a broad circulation exhibiting absolutely no 

 tendency toward crowding of the streamlines. 



Fig. 65. Streamlines of a nonrotating ocean (Stonrmel, 1948, fig. 2). 



Fig. 56. Contours of surface height in the nonrotating ocean (Stommel, 1948, 

 fig. 3). 



The. case of the uniformly rotating ocean. — If the Coriolis parameter is a 

 constant 0-25 x 10-^, the streamline diagram does not differ from that of the 

 nonrotating basin. When the height contours are computed, however, a 

 difference between the two cases becomes apparent, as shown in fig. 57. 

 The large elevation in the central part of the ocean provides horizontal 

 pressure gradients that nearly counterbalance the CorioUs forces. The 

 height contours are not strictly parallel to the streamhnes, but nearly so. 



Coriolis parameter a function of latitude. — In the real ocean the Coriohs 



