A Model of Gulf Stream Frontal Instabilities, Meanders and Eddies along the Continental Slope

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Abstract
For a simplified model of the Gulf Stream front along a vertical-walled continental slope of a constant-depth ocean basin, the dynamics governing frontal instabilities, meanders, and eddies depend primarily on (i) L0/ R0, the ratio of the cross-stream distance of the stream axis from the slope, L0, to the Roosby radius of deformation, L0, and (ii) h0/ H, the ratio of the depth L0 of upper layer of light water to ocean basin depth H. A nonlinear, time-dependent three-dimensional model is used to study this interdependency. Two different types of meander solutions are found, depending on the value of the (nondimensionalized) initial available potential energy per unit alongfront length and per unit “Rossby area,” HR0, APE = ( L0/ R0)(h0/ H)/2. For small APE, the meanders and their associated cyclones are slope-bounded as they propagate downstream. This solution has characteristics similar to observed Gulf Stream meanders south of a topographic feature at 31.5°N (the so-called “Charleston Bump”) on ... Abstract For a simplified model of the Gulf Stream front along a vertical-walled continental slope of a constant-depth ocean basin, the dynamics governing frontal instabilities, meanders, and eddies depend primarily on (i) L0/ R0, the ratio of the cross-stream distance of the stream axis from the slope, L0, to the Roosby radius of deformation, L0, and (ii) h0/ H, the ratio of the depth L0 of upper layer of light water to ocean basin depth H. A nonlinear, time-dependent three-dimensional model is used to study this interdependency. Two different types of meander solutions are found, depending on the value of the (nondimensionalized) initial available potential energy per unit alongfront length and per unit “Rossby area,” HR0, APE = ( L0/ R0)(h0/ H)/2. For small APE, the meanders and their associated cyclones are slope-bounded as they propagate downstream. This solution has characteristics similar to observed Gulf Stream meanders south of a topographic feature at 31.5°N (the so-called “Charleston Bump”) on ...

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