Sub-inertial dynamics of density-driven flows in a continuously stratifiedfluid on a sloping bottom. II. Isolated eddies and radiating cold domes

Dynamical properties of propagating baroclinic bottom-intensified eddies on a sloping bottom are investigated. The model is based on one previously in troduced describing the sub-inertial dynamics of density-driven flows on a sloping bottom within a continuously stratified rotating fluid. A variation al principle is established for arbitrary nonlinear steadily travelling edd ies. Explicit solutions are obtained for fully nonlinear radially symmetric eddies. The eddies correspond to a bottom-trapped cold dome that has a pre dominantly anticyclonic circulation within it and a relatively strong cyclo nic eddy in the overlying fluid, which satisfies the Mory-Stern isolation c onstraint. These eddies are able to transport bottom- and intermediate-wate r fluid parcels. An approximate solution is also constructed for a radiatin g cold dome. These eddies possess a topographic Rossby wave field behind th e travelling eddy. The associated wave drag results in down-slope motion in to deeper waters. The theoretical work is illustrated with a specific solut ion for a cold dome with a parabolic height profile that intersects the bot tom.