The Ekman Layer
At infinity ($z \to \infty$), the flow tends to a uniform geostrophic velocity
$
\boxed{
u = U, v = 0, w = 0}
$
At the rigid wall ($z=0$), by the no-slip condition that
both the normal and tangential velocities vanish on $z = 0$
$
\boxed{
u = v = w = 0}
$
In the absence of friction, the balance would be
$$
u = U = -\frac{1}{\rho f} \frac{\partial p}{\partial y}, \quad v = w = 0
$$
which is just the geostrophic balance.
But since friction and the wall condition require $u,v=0$ at $z=0$, the velocity must significantly
depart from geostrophy balance near the wall
Assume exact solution form
$
u = u(z), \quad v = v(z), \quad w = w(z)
$
Substitute into continuity \(\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}
+ \frac{\partial v}{\partial y}
+ \frac{\partial w}{\partial z} = 0\)
$$
\frac{\partial w}{\partial z} = 0
$$
With boundary condition $w(0) = 0$
$$
w(z) = 0 \quad \forall z
$$
The vertical velocity vanishes everywhere
With $w=0$ and no $x,y$ dependence, the momentum equations reduce to
$x$-momentum
\(
\cancel{\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}}
+ \cancel{u \frac{\partial u}{\partial x}}
+ \cancel{v \frac{\partial u}{\partial y}}
+ w \cancel{\frac{\partial u}{\partial z}}
- fv
= -\frac{1}{\rho}\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}
+ A_v \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial z^2}
+ \cancel{A_H \left( \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial y^2} \right)}
\Rightarrow
-fv = -\frac{1}{\rho}\frac{\partial p}{\partial x} + A_v \frac{d^2 u}{dz^2}
\)
$y$-momentum
\(
\cancel{\frac{\partial v}{\partial t}}
+ \cancel{u \frac{\partial v}{\partial x}}
+ \cancel{v \frac{\partial v}{\partial y}}
+ w \cancel{\frac{\partial v}{\partial z}}
+ fu
= -\frac{1}{\rho}\frac{\partial p}{\partial y}
+ A_v \frac{\partial^2 v}{\partial z^2}
+ \cancel{A_H \left( \frac{\partial^2 v}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial^2 v}{\partial y^2} \right)}
\Rightarrow
fu = -\frac{1}{\rho}\frac{\partial p}{\partial y} + A_v \frac{d^2 v}{dz^2}
\)
Hydrostatic balance
\(
\cancel{\frac{\partial w}{\partial t}}
+ \cancel{u \frac{\partial w}{\partial x}}
+ \cancel{v \frac{\partial w}{\partial y}}
+ w \cancel{\frac{\partial w}{\partial z}}
= -\frac{1}{\rho} \frac{\partial p}{\partial z} - g
+ \cancel{A_v \frac{\partial^2 w}{\partial z^2}}
+ \cancel{A_H \left( \frac{\partial^2 w}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial^2 w}{\partial y^2} \right)}
\Rightarrow
g = -\frac{1}{\rho}\frac{\partial p}{\partial z}
\)