Investigation of Arctic Ocean Dynamics

为研究北冰洋的一系列基本动力过程提供了资金，北冰洋的影响很小，而且没有西部海洋边界。研究结果将有助于理解有关北冰洋环流和状况的一系列重要问题，例如：斯维尔德鲁普平衡在北极是否成立？罗斯比波仍然在北极海洋环流的旋转中扮演中心角色吗？海洋对北极附近风的变化有何反应，在那里罗斯比波应该是不存在的或停滞不前的？涡旋在位涡平衡中扮演什么角色？如果没有西方海洋边界，海洋是如何旋转到准平衡状态的？是风还是温盐因素主导和塑造了北极海洋环流？S？为什么大西洋的水会渗入北冰洋？它去北极是为了取代被风逼出北极的地表水(风力驱动的理论)，还是为了满足盐分和热量平衡(温盐理论)？过去一个世纪，基于对副热带和热带环流(如墨西哥湾流系统)的研究，发展了一种公认的海洋环流理论。在北冰洋，这一理论所依据的假设的有效性值得怀疑。这项研究将增进我们对控制北冰洋环流的基本物理的理解，以及我们预测强迫变化可能导致的环流模式变化的能力，从而增强我们预测北冰洋物质漂移的能力。

Funds are provided to investigate a set of fundamental dynamical processes in the Arctic Ocean where the â-effect is small and the western ocean boundary is absent. Results will contribute to understanding a series of important issues concerning the circulation and state of the Arctic Ocean, such as: Does the Sverdrup balance hold in the Arctic? Do Rossby waves still play the central role in the spin up of an oceanic gyre in the Arctic? How does the ocean respond to changes in wind near the North Pole where Rossby waves are supposed to be nonexistent or stagnant? What role do eddies play in the potential vorticity balance? How does the ocean spin up to a quasi-equilibrium state if there is no western ocean boundary? Do winds or thermohaline factors dominate and shape the arctic?s ocean circulation? Why does the Atlantic water penetrate to the Arctic Ocean? Does it go to the Arctic to replace surface water forced by winds to go out of the Arctic (wind-driven theory) or in order to satisfy salt and heat balances (thermohaline theory)?An accepted theory of ocean circulation has been developed over the past century based on studies of the subtropical and tropical gyres, such as the Gulf Stream system. The validity of the assumptions on which this theory is based is questionable in the Arctic Ocean. This study will enhance our understanding of the fundamental physics controlling Arctic Ocean circulation and our ability to predict the changes in circulation patterns that may result from changes in forcing and, hence, our ability to predict the drift of material in the Arctic Ocean.