A numerical study of eddy interactions with a barotropic oceanic jet
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Authors
Davis, George P., Jr.
Subjects
Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream vortices
Numerical simulations
Gulf Stream vortices
Numerical simulations
Advisors
Smith, David C., IV
Date of Issue
1988-06
Date
June 1988
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
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)
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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.