Influence of lateral boundaries on mesoscale variability

Using the Florida Strait as:a prototype, it is shown that lateral boundarie s can have a significant dynamic influence on mesoscale variability, provid ed the distance between the lateral boundaries is very close to the critica l width for baroclinic instability (D-c = pi L-r/root 2, L-r is the interna l Rossby radius of deformation). As a result, the close relation between st rong background currents and mesoscale variability found in open-ocean sett ings breaks down. In addition, straits that are narrow enough can very effe ctively block through-strait movement of strong mesoscale variability.