Numerical model of currents generated by sources and sinks in a circular rotating channel

This paper presents the results of numerical calculations using shallow water equations for the currents in the laboratory experiments with a rotating circular channel. An axial symmetric function of mass source is introduced into the equations for the depth of the layer to model experimental sources and sinks of fluid, which induces opposing zonal flows together with the Coriolis force. Different configurations and amplitudes of mass sources lead to the appearance of vortex motions in the channel with different circular motions in the vortices and azimuthal displacements of their centers along the channel. Diagrams of regimes are presented in the parameters of relative angular velocities of the mean zonal flow and vortex transport around the axis of the system rotation. The differences of the theory and real experiments with currents of finite depth in a channel are discussed.