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Observation of the bottom boundary layer on the continental shelf

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Abstract

Current meter data from various depths near the sea bottom collected for 31 days at time intervals of 10 minutes using a subsurface buoy system at a depth at 38 m on the continental shelf off Akita, Japan have been analyzed. The results show the existence of a stationary Ekman layer. The typical range of the characteristic parameters are estimated as follows; friction velocity: 0.38 cm s−1; Ekman layer thickness: 16 m; logarithmic layer thickness: 4 m–6 m; constant flux layer thickness: 0.4–0.6 m; Ekman veering: 28.7°; drag coefficient: 0.24×10−2−0.53×10−2. Veering was also observed in the logarithmic layer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Institute for Pollution and Resources, Yatabechô, Tsukuba, 305, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

    Kisaburo Nakata

  2. Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Yatabechô, Tsukuba, 305, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

    Kisaburo Nakata

  3. Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Yatabechô, Tsukuba, 305, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

    Kisaburo Nakata

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  1. Kisaburo Nakata
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Nakata, K. Observation of the bottom boundary layer on the continental shelf. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 37, 94–98 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02072562

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02072562

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