On a finite difference scheme for solving the non-linear primitive equations for a barotropic fluid with application to the boundary current problem

Güinter Fischer

doi:10.3402/tellusa.v17i4.9169

On a finite difference scheme for solving the non-linear primitive equations for a barotropic fluid with application to the boundary current problem

Tellus

Volume 17 (1965): Issue 4

By: Güinter Fischer

Open Access

|Jan 1965

Abstract

In this paper a finite difference scheme for solving the primitive equations for a barotropic fluid is proposed. This scheme is an extension of a method investigated thoroughly by the author in a recent paper (1965). It has certain advantages against the commonly used leap frog scheme insofar as it occupies less space in the computer and avoids fictitious numerical solutions. To test the finite difference scheme computations are performed with an ocean model where the circulation is generated by a prescribed meridional distribution of zonal winds. The β-plane approximation has been applied. The solutions behaved well and showed no instabilities.

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