Michael Spall

Pratt, L. J., and M. A. Spall, 2003. A Porous Medium Theory for Geostrophic Flow Through Ridges and Archipelagos. Journal of Physical Oceanography , 33,2702-2718.

Spall, M. A., 2003. Islands in Zonal Flow. Journal of Physical Oceanography , 33, 2689-2701.

Spall, M. A., 2002. Wind- and buoyancy-forced upper ocean circulation in two-strait marginal seas with application to the Japan / East Sea. Journal of Geophysical Research , 107(C1), 6.1-6.12.

Spall, M. A., 2000. Buoyancy-forced circulation around islands and ridges. Journal of Marine Research, 58(6), 957-982.

Pedlosky, J. and M. A. Spall, 1999. Rossby normal modes in basins with barriers. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 29(9), 2332-2349.

Pedlosky, J., L. J. Pratt, M. A. Spall, K. R. Helfrich, 1997. Circulation around islands and ridges. Journal of Marine Research, 55(6), 1199-1251.

 

Back to main project page

Circulation around islands and ridges

I am studying the influences of planetary scale topographic features such as islands and abyssal ridges on the mean and low frequency variability of the large scale circulation using both numerical models and simple theories. The circulation integral around an island places a strong constraint on the properties of the flow, both in the vicinity of the island and in the adjacent basins. Single islands or island chains allow for the passage of some forms of low frequency variability quite freely, while other forms are entirely blocked by the topography. Interesting circulation features arise in the mean flow, such as recirculation gyres, jets, and eastern boundary currents as a result of circulation constraints around the topography.

Although most recent efforts have been directed towards understanding the large-scale wind-forced circulation around islands, buoyancy-forcing can also alter the exchange between adjacent basins, particularly if it is concentrated along the western coast of the island or ridge. Diapycnal mixing near a boundary can result in significant dissipation, which results in a pressure drop along the boundary near the mixing region. This pressure drop must be balanced elsewhere along the island perimeter, giving rise to the possibility that diapycnal mixing, due either to air-sea exchange or internal wave breaking, can drive a large-scale circulations around topographic features that may extend far from the region of mixing.

This work has been generously supported through grants from the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research.

Recent manuscripts on these subjects :

Pedlosky, J., R. Iacono, E. Napolitano, M. A. Spall, 2011: The two-layer skirted island. J. Mar. Res,69, 347-382.
back to top PO Homepage | WHOI Homepage