A numerical study of eddy interactions with a barotropic oceanic jet

Mesoscale vortices generated by western boundary currents are well observed and documented, particularly in the case of the Gulf Stream System. The movement of these rings in the region of the Gulf Stream is well studied and has been ascribed to the following physical mechanisms: (1) the beta effect on an isolated ring, (2) advection of a ring in a recirculation regime, (3) downstream advection of a ring in contact with a jet, and (4) vorticity advection associated with the jet and eddy interaction. Utilizing a two layer, nonlinear primitive equation model, an examination of eddy movement is conducted, with focus on eddy/jet interaction. A series of numerical experiments is performed in which the initial separation distance between eddy and jet is varied. The model demonstrates that vortex movement is strongly related to the proximity of the vortex to the jet. It also is demonstrated that observed movement is not solely dependent on the beta effect nor on advection due to recirculation. Keywords: Gulf stream, Gulf stream vortices, Numerical simulators. (JHD)

Department dc:contributor.department

Oceanography

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Davis, George P., Jr.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Smith, David C., IV

Statement dc:rights

• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/23083

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/23083