On a Mid-Ocean Thermocline Regime

Abstract

In a uniform-depth ocean forced by a wind stress and surface heat flux (or surface temperature) which are independent of longitude, there exists a possible thermocline regime with vanishing east-west temperature gradient. The associated meridional-vertical circulation is entirely wind-driven, producing a deep thermal structure at high latitudes, a thin equatorial thermocline, and a vertical thermal front at the latitude of vanishing Ekman downwelling. Some numerical examples are given.