T. M. SHAUN JOHNSTON          

SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY

FLOW ENCOUNTERING ABRUPT TOPOGRAPHY


This study examines flow around islands, which are large and small compared to the Rossby radius.  In Palau, the North Equatorial Current encounters the main island group and forms a strong western boundary current.  Further south, Toby Island and Helen Reef are in the flow of the North Equatorial Countercurrent.  A Venturi-like effect is seen as the current is constrained to flow over the islands' flanks.  Cruise 1 took place from June-July 2013.  Cruise 2 took place from March-April 2014. 

Poster: [pdf] and [zip].

Preliminary findings are in the cruise reports for cruise 1 [pdf] and cruise 2 [pdf] and cruise 3 [pdf].

  

flow around big
          island
flow around
          small island

This research is funded by the Office of Naval Research.

Updated 6 Nov 2013