Abstract:The problem of bottom boundary mixed layer growth in a stratified flow is dealt with in this paper in terms of a new vertically integrated model.A parameter depending on the distribution of velocity in the vertical direction appears in a new energy balance equation. This energy balance equation is equivalent to the Richardson number closure model used byPollar et al. ̄21 and Thompson ̄13 when the velocity distribution is uniform in the verticaldirection within the layer.The analytic solutions are obtai...