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The quasi-geostrophic energy equation is utilized to address both theoretically and numerically the insensitivity to turbulent closure that is exhibited by the wind-driven nonlinear Stommel-Munk model. When maximum velocities take place at least at inertial length scales, a Sverdrup interior is consistent with the small Rossby number assumption only if the frictional parameters are more than the critical values. If frictional parameters are smaller, valid solutions must lessen the source of energy. The ocean circulation model's steady-state behavior was also examined by using a pseudo-arclength continuation algorithm.