The influence of a coastal headland on oceanic boundary currents

Abstract

The steady state circulation of a constant barotropic current around a coastal headland, bay, or combination of the two, located on a flat bottom, mid-latitude β-plane is considered. The maximum displacement of the coastal features from the mean straight coastline is assumed to be small compared to the longshore variation of the coastline. Under this slowly varying coastline approximation, a linearised vorticity equation is derived for the perturbation stream function. An analytical solution for the perturbation stream function is obtained using a Green's function technique. For a specified coastline the effects of coastal orientation, linear friction and the strength of the mean flow are investigated. The model predicts that the flow field will adopt the pattern of the coastline. The question of whether a coastal feature is likely to induce linear flow dynamics within the coastal boundary layer is also addressed. In the case when a single Gaussian headland or bay violates the slowly varying longshore condition the model predicts that flow stagnation will not occur. However for multiple headlands and bays, flow stagnation is possible when the slowly varying longshore condition is sufficiently violated.

Cape Mendocino and Point Conception along the California coast can be modelled using either a single Gaussian headland coastline or a multiple headland and bay coastline. In either case the model coastline does not vary slowly alongshore and nonlinear flow in the coastal region is likely. A permanent eddy to the south of Point Conception is likely to testify to the non-linear flow regime induced by the headland.