Residual circulation in the North Sea due to the M2-tide and mean annual wind stress

In a high resolving (mean grid size 11 km) barotropic numerical model of the North Sea tides the M2-tide is computed. Nonlinearities of the Navier-Stokesequation yield, in connection with an annual mean wind stress, a residual circulation fitting well to observational data. Some effects of this circulation are discussed in connection with pollution problems. © 1977 Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut