Laminar boundary layer on a rotating sphere

Abstract

The problem of laminar boundary layer on a sphere, rotating uniformly about a diameter, is studied by the momentum-integral method. The meridional and the radial velocity components are assumed to be nonzero at the outer edge of the boundary layer. Instead, the condition of zero vorticity is imposed. It is found that an inflow at the poles changes into an outflow near the equator and this transition takes place at an angle measured from the pole of 77.5°.