On the Ekman Equations for Ocean Currents Driven by a Stochastic Wind

The basic assumptions for the depth-dependent Ekman equations are presented. An analysis of three wind stress time series, from different geographical locations, is performed: The results lead to interpret the wind stress as a stochastic process, with components fluctuating with deterministic frequencies. The stochastic equations coupling wind stress and ocean currents are formulated; their solutions are stochastically bounded. Results of numerical simulations are given to show the main behaviors of the system.