Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 April 2006
The effects of circumferential curvature and strong density variation on E¼ Stewartson layers are investigated. The solution of the third-order ordinary differential equation found to govern the flow is obtained by numerical integration for layers extending in the positive radial direction and in terms of a Frobenius-series solution for layers extending in the opposite direction. Due to the variation of the basic density field, the E¼ layer is compressed in the positive radial direction. E1/4 layers extending in the negative radial direction are likely to extend fully to the axis of symmetry because of the density variation and, consequently, a distinction in terms of a geostrophic flow and an E¼ layer flow cannot be made. Curvature effects are found to play a significant role in this case. A simple case of driving by a differential rotation of part of the horizontal boundaries is examined.