Past exam of the physics of atmospheres and oceans course of the University of Oxford / 2022 / 6 / a

Use a shallow, homogeneous active upper layer of mean thickness $h_0$ and mass density ${\rho }_1$, over a much deeper, effectively stationary layer with mass density ${\rho }_2>{\rho }_1$. The Boussinesq approximation keeps the small density contrast only in buoyancy, giving reduced gravity $g^{\prime }=g({\rho }_2-{\rho }_1)/{\rho }_0$. The hydrostatic approximation and shallow-water approximation make horizontal velocity nearly depth independent and turn the interface slope into the horizontal force $-g^{\prime }\nabla h$.

Linearize about rest and uniform $h_0$, with $|h-h_0|\ll h_0$, neglecting products of perturbations and convective acceleration. The f-plane approximation sets the Coriolis parameter to constant $f_0$. Neglect wind forcing, viscosity, entrainment and bottom drag. The two horizontal momentum equations then balance local acceleration, the Coriolis force and the pressure gradient. The signs $-f_{0}v$ and $+f_{0}u$ follow from eastward and northward coordinates.

The thickness equation is the linearized conservation of mass law: horizontal divergence decreases $h$, while horizontal convergence increases it. Here $h$ is active-layer thickness, not total ocean depth, and $g^{\prime }$ rather than $g$ gives the restoring force because the motion principally displaces the thermocline.