The effect of finite vertical Ekman number on the coastal boundary layers of a lake

Abstract

The linear hydrostatic coastal boundary layers in a shallow lake were previously investigated by the author under the assumption of infinitesimal vertical Ekman number; overlapping layers of thickness E½H and E½H/E½v were found (Janowitz, 1970). In this work the boundary layers are investigated for Ev = 0(1). The E½H/E½v layer is distinguishable, though thinner. The E½H layer is also present in a modified form; each vertical component present has a different horizontal length scale, though each is 0(E½H). Numerical calculations of boundary layer thicknesses for E_v = 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 were performed.