| Abstract: | The problem of the interaction between Ekman's classical boundary layer and that induced by a thermally non-homogeneous site shows that the latter is strongly linked to the order of magnitude of the horizontal scale of the site. Our purpose is the analysis of the local interaction equations (Boussinesq equations) starting from a triple-deck model. This analysis yields a system of quasi-linear equations for the viscous lower deck. The linear theory of this system shows that the thermal non-homogeneity has a significant influence on the Ekman boundary layer flow owing to the interactive nature of the triple-deck structure. The numerical solution of the quasi-linear system confirms to a large extent this influence. The numerical results are given in graph form. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
