Experimental verification of the orbital flow theory

Abstract

The orbital flow theory for explaining oceanic surface current is verified experimentally by generating waves in a rotating wave tank. The resulting current is observed by tracing the movement of the specially designed drifters. The experimental results confirm the correctness of the basic assumption of the theory that oceanic surface current is related to surface waves. The experimental results, however, indicated that the theory should be revised on the part of relationship between Coriolis moment/force and the resulting current.