The first is a descent of dense water in the bottom Ekman layer, where bottom friction breaks down the geostrophic balance between the downslope pressure gradient force and the upslope Coriolis force.
(The first; is; a descent of dense water in the bottom Ekman layer) (bottom friction; breaks down; the geostrophic balance between the downslope pressure gradient force and the upslope Coriolis force; L:the bottom Ekman layer)
The first bottom friction
is breaks down
a descent of dense water in the bottom Ekman layer
the geostrophic balance between the downslope pressure gradient force and the upslope Coriolis force L:the bottom Ekman layer