The mechanisms of coherent tripole formation from unstable shielded ci
rcular vortices are analysed in the context of two-dimensional incompr
essible flows. Three stages are identified during the transformation p
rocess: the linear growth of the initial normal mode perturbation, its
nonlinear amplification and the finite-amplitude saturation under the
tripolar form. We give a geometrical discussion of the mutual influen
ce of the core vortex and of the satellites generated from the shield.
The role of the angular momentum in determining the finite amplitude
saturation is demonstrated using a simple elliptical model of the core
vortex associated with two point-vortex satellites. The long-time asy
mmetric breaking of the tripole into a dipole and a monopole is shown
to be driven by the erosion of the core vortex by stripping and diffus
ion. Finally the influence of bottom topography on tripole formation i
s considered, providing a rich phenomenology when the height of the to
pography is varied.