A FRICTIONALLY AND HYDRAULICALLY CONSTRAINED MODEL OF THE CONVECTIVELY DRIVEN MEAN FLOW IN PARTIALLY ENCLOSED SEAS

A simple three-layer model of the dynamics of partially enclosed seas, driven by a surface buoyancy flux, is presented. It contains two majo r elements, a hydraulic constraint at the exit contraction and frictio n in the interior of the main body of the sea; both together determine the vertical structure and magnitudes of the interior flow variables, i.e. velocity and density. Application of the model to the large-scal e dynamics of the Red Sea gives results that are not in disagreement w ith observation once the model is applied, also, to predict the dense outflow from the Gulf of Suez. The latter appears to be the agent resp onsible for the formation of dense bottom water in this system. Also, the model is reasonably successful in predicting the density of the ou tflow from the Persian Gulf, and can be applied to any number of other examples of convectively driven flow in long, narrow channels, with o r without sills and constrictions at their exits. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.