OLR (1987) 34 (9) A. Physical Oceanography 739

astrophys. Fluid Dynam., 38(1):43-68. Space Sci. Lab., NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812, USA.

87:4928 Holloway, Greg, 1986. Comment on Fofonoff's mode.

Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dynam., 37(1-2):165- 169.

Merkine et al. (1985) concluded that the Fofonoff mode does not occur, that such a mode would be barotropically unstable and that resemblances be- tween numerical circulations and Fofonoff's mode are more dependent upon the natures of forcing and dissipation. Here it is suggested that on the contrary, Fofonoff's mode very naturally does emerge and that forcing and dissipation only impede the full realization of Fofonoff's mode. Moreover, statistical mechanical arguments from Salmon et al. (1976) show that the Fofonoff mode is expected to co-exist with a transient eddy field whose statistics are in equilibrium with the mode; thus barotropic insta- bility does not argue for nonrealization of Fofonoff's mode. Inst. of Ocean Sci., 9860 West Saanich Rd., Patricia Bay, Sidney, BC V8L 4B2, Canada.

87:4931 Matsuura, Tomonori and Toshio Yamagata, 1986. A

numerical study of a viscous flow past a right circular cylinder on a fl-plane. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dynam., 37(1-2):129-164. Faculty of Engng, Ibaraki Univ., Hitachi 316, Japan.

87:4932 Ou, H.W., 1986. On the energy conversion during

geostrophic adjustment. J. phys. Oceanogr., 16(12):2203-2204.

It is found that for a fluid which remains contin- uously stratified during the geostrophic adjustment, the energy conversion ratio ), is ~A, in contrast to the value of ~A for a two-layer fluid. Since the two-layer fluid is an asymptotic limit of a continuously stratified fluid, it is deduced that ), decreases smoothly from ~ to ~/~ when density discontinuities are formed during the adjustment. Furthermore, the total energy released during the adjustment is inversely proportional to the dimensionless hori- zontal scale (scaled by the baroclinic radius of deformation) characterizing the density variation in the initial state. Lamont-Doherty Geol. Observ., Palisades, NY 10964, USA.

87:4929 Holloway, Greg, 1986. Considerations on the theory

of temperature spectra in stably stratified tur- bulence. J. phys. Oceanogr., 16(12):2179-2183.

In a recent note, Weinstock reconsiders an argument advanced twenty years earlier by Phillips concerning the buoyancy subrange theory of Lumley. Phillips pointed out that Lumley's theory ought to predict a certain form for temperature fluctuation spectra. Subsequent observations are inconsistent with the predicted spectral form. Weinstock argues that Phillips' analysis is incorrect and that Lumley's theory, suitably extended to treat temperature spectra, is consistent with observations. Here I will argue that both Lumley and Weinstock theories are incorrect. An alternative, testable, theory is de- scribed. Inst. of Ocean Sci., Sidney, BC VSL 4B2, Canada.

87:4933 Paldor, Nathan, 1986. Nonlinear waves on a coupled

density front. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dynam., 37(3):171-191.

Inclusion of the nonlinear terms in the equations of motion of a coupled density front of zero potential vorticity results in wave solutions which merely propagate with time. The linear theory, on the other hand, predicts an exponential temporal growth. The nonlinear equation admits steady solutions repre- senting standing waves whereas if the nonlinear terms are omitted no steady solutions exist. The general initial value problem is difficult to solve numerically since the linear problem is ill-posed. In addition we prove that the general similarity solution of the nonlinear equation tends to zero for large times, at any point in space, regardless of the initial condition. Dept. of Atmos. Sci., Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.

87:4930 Machetel, Philippe, Michel Rabinowicz and Pierre

Bernardet, 1986. Three-dimensional convection in spherical shells. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dynam., 37(1-2):57-84. Groupe de Rech. de Geodesie Spatiale/CNES, 18, ave. Edouard Belin, 31055 Toulouse Cedex, France.

87:4934 Saint-Guily, Bernard, 1987. Free inertia motion of a

rotating nonhomogeneous fluid. C. r. Acad. Sci., Paris, (S6r. II)304(2):61-64. (In French, English abstract.) Lab. d'Oceanogr, physique, Mus. Natl. d'Histoire naturelle, 43-45, rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France.