Abstract
This chapter explains various approximations which are commonly used for the discussion of the large scale ocean circulation. These approximations are based on the smallness of oceanic density variations – which will lead to the inelastic and ultimately to the Boussinesq approximation, the geometry of the Earth, in particular its almost spherical shape, and the scales of ocean circulation – which lead to the hydrostatic approximation. The combination of all approximations form the so-called primitive equations, which represent the basis of current numerical ocean general circulation models.
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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Olbers, D., Willebrand, J., Eden, C. (2012). Approximations Relating to Density Changes and Geometric Conditions. In: Ocean Dynamics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23450-7_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23450-7_4
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-23449-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-23450-7
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