ON BASIC MECHANISMS GOVERNING 2-LAYER VORTICES ON A BETA-PLANE

Authors
REZNIK GM GRIMSHAW RHJ SRISKANDARAJAH K
Citation
Gm. Reznik et al., ON BASIC MECHANISMS GOVERNING 2-LAYER VORTICES ON A BETA-PLANE, Geophysical and astrophysical fluid dynamics, 86(1-2), 1997, pp. 1-42
Citations number
15
Journal title
Geophysical and astrophysical fluid dynamics → ACNP
ISSN journal
03091929
Volume
86
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1 - 42
Database
ISI
SICI code
0309-1929(1997)86:1-2<1:OBMG2V>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
An analytical theory of purely baroclinic two-layer singular vortices is presented. The evolution of the vortex structure and the vortex tra cks are calculated. It is found that four mechanisms govern the motion of the vortex: (i) barotropic beta gyres, (ii) baroclinic beta gyres, (iii) the interaction between the lower-layer and upper-layer vortice s, (iv) Rossby wave radiation. The role of each of these mechanisms an d their joint influence upon the baroclinic vortex dynamics are analys ed.