Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 March 2006
The structure of shear layers due to bottom topography in a rotating stratified fluid is obtained under the restriction σS [Lt ] E½, where σS = ναgΔT/KΩ2L is a measure of the stratification and E = ν/Ω2L is the Ekman number. The layers are found to be similar to the side-wall layers discussed by Barcilon & Pedlosky (19673) if σS [Gt ] E½ and are Stewartson layers if $\sigma S \ll E^{\frac{2}{3}}$. Some comments are made on the possibility of Taylor column formation in a stratified fluid.