Topographic modifications to bottom Ekman layer structure

Canonical Ekman layer theory offers a prediction for the transport that takes place in the oceanic bottom boundary layer, relying only on the local bottom stress and Coriolis parameter. In this study, we use idealized Large Eddy Simulations to illustrate that the presence of small-scale topography can introduce large deviations from the theoretical predictions made by canonical Ekman layer theory. In particular, we show that topography can magnify the transport by as much as 30% in the presence of strong flow separation.