An Approximate Analytical Solution For The Baroclinic And Variable Eddy Diffusivity Semi-Geostrophic Ekman Boundary Layer

The WKB method has been used to develop an approximate solutionof the semi-geostrophic Ekman boundary layer with height-dependenteddy viscosity and a baroclinic pressure field. The approximate solutionretains the same simple form as the classical Ekman solution. Behavioursof the approximate solution are discussed for different eddy viscosityand the pressure systems. These features show that wind structure inthe semi-geostrophic Ekman boundary layer depends on the interactionbetween the inertial acceleration, variable eddy viscosity and baroclinicpressure gradient. Anticyclonic shear has an acceleration effect on theair motion in the boundary layer, while cyclonic shear has a decelerationeffect. Decreasing pressure gradient with height results in a super-geostrophicpeak in the wind speed profile, however the increasing pressure gradient withheight may remove the peak. Anticyclonic shear and decreasing the variableeddy viscosity with height has an enhanced effect on the peak.