Numerical prediction of a laminar boundary layer flow on a rotating sphere

Consideration is given to numerical solutions to a laminar boundary layer flow past a sphere. The procedure of Gosman et al. (1969), with appropriate modifications, is used to present the solutions. The SOR method is used, and it is pointed out that applying this method to nonlinear Navier-Stokes equations is highly nontrivial. The governing nonlinear differential equations are converted into finite difference equations by integrating the equations over a control volume; an iterative procedure is then used for their solution. The numerical results predict that the transverse velocity will be positive in the upper hemisphere, will go to zero in the equatorial plane, and will become negative in the lower hemisphere.