= Ocean basin equation with bottom drag and lateral viscosity
{title2=$\nu\lambda^3-r\lambda-\beta=0$}
With depth transport $(-\psi_y,\psi_x)$ and a depth-mean bottom-drag closure, the wind-driven equation is $\beta\psi_x=S-r\nabla^2\psi+\nu\nabla^4\psi$, where $S$ is wind-stress curl divided by density and $r=\gamma/(\rho_0H)$ is the drag rate. Its zonal boundary modes solve $\nu\lambda^3-r\lambda-\beta=0$. The <Munk boundary layer> and <Stommel boundary layer> are different limits of this combined equation.
Back to article page
