In a two-dimensional and linear framework, a transformation was developed to derive eigensolutions of internal waves over a subcritical hyperbolic slope and to approximate the continental slope and shelf. The transformation converts a hyperbolic slope in physical space into a flat bottom in transform space while the governing equations of internal waves remain hyperbolic. The eigensolutions are further used to study the evolution of linear internal waves as it propagates to subcritical continental slope and shelf. The stream function, velocity, and vertical shear of velocity induced by internal wave at the hyperbolic slope are analytically expressed by superposition of the obtained eigensolutions. The velocity and velocity shear increase as the internal wave propagates to a hyperbolic slope. They become very large especially when the slope of internal wave rays approaches the topographic slope, which is consistent with the previous studies.
The classical Ekman theory tells us that the ocean surface current turns to the right(left) side of wind direction with 45° in the north(south) hemisphere,but the observation and research results show that the surface current deflexion angle is smaller than 45° in the Arctic and high latitude areas while larger than 45° in the low latitude areas.In order to explain these phenomena,a series of idealized numerical experiments are designed to investigate the influence of vertical viscosity coefficients with different vertical distribution characteristics on the classical and steady Ekman spiral structure.Results show that when the vertical viscosity coefficient decreases with water depth,the surface current deflexion angle is larger than 45°,whereas the angle is smaller than 45° when the vertical viscosity coefficient increases with water depth.So the different observed surface current deflexion angles in low latitude sea areas and the Arctic regions should be attributed to the different vertical distribution characteristics of vertical viscosity coefficients in the upper ocean.The flatness of the Ekman spiral is not equal to one and does not show regular behaviors for the numerical experiments with different distribution of vertical viscosity.However,the magnitudes and directions of volume transport of Ekman spirals are almost the same as the results of classical Ekman theory,i.e.,vertical viscosity coefficient distributions have no effect on the magnitudes and directions of volume transport.
