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Baroclinic Instability of the Faroe Bank Channel Overflow *

Baroclinic Instability of the Faroe Bank Channel Overflow * The generation mechanism of mesoscale eddies in the Faroe Bank Channel (FBC) overflow region and their spatiotemporal characteristics are examined using the high-resolution regional Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm). From the modeled overflow, it is found that the volume transport downstream of the FBC sill exhibits strong variability with a distinct period of ~4 days. Energetic, alternating cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies appear at ~40 km downstream of the sill. They grow side by side in the nascent stage, but later the cyclones migrate along the 800-m isobath to the south of Iceland, whereas the anticyclones descend downslope across the isobath and gradually dissipate. Analysis of the eddy characteristics shows that the cyclones are associated with a larger plume thickness and width, larger volume transport, colder and denser water, and a plume core located farther downslope, whereas the opposite is true for the anticyclones. The oscillatory structure developed at the lower boundary of the mean plume and the following generation of alternating cyclones and anticyclones are typical features of baroclinic instability. A linear instability analysis of a two-layer analytical baroclinic model yields a most unstable mode that agrees favorably with the simulations. The calculation of the divergent eddy heat flux shows a substantial rightward (upslope)-directed component downstream of the FBC sill. This region is also associated with a strong baroclinic conversion rate. The above arguments constitute evidence for the generation of unstable plume and mesoscale eddies in the FBC region by baroclinic instability. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Physical Oceanography American Meteorological Society

Baroclinic Instability of the Faroe Bank Channel Overflow *

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References (49)

Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 American Meteorological Society
ISSN
0022-3670
eISSN
1520-0485
DOI
10.1175/JPO-D-14-0080.1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The generation mechanism of mesoscale eddies in the Faroe Bank Channel (FBC) overflow region and their spatiotemporal characteristics are examined using the high-resolution regional Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm). From the modeled overflow, it is found that the volume transport downstream of the FBC sill exhibits strong variability with a distinct period of ~4 days. Energetic, alternating cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies appear at ~40 km downstream of the sill. They grow side by side in the nascent stage, but later the cyclones migrate along the 800-m isobath to the south of Iceland, whereas the anticyclones descend downslope across the isobath and gradually dissipate. Analysis of the eddy characteristics shows that the cyclones are associated with a larger plume thickness and width, larger volume transport, colder and denser water, and a plume core located farther downslope, whereas the opposite is true for the anticyclones. The oscillatory structure developed at the lower boundary of the mean plume and the following generation of alternating cyclones and anticyclones are typical features of baroclinic instability. A linear instability analysis of a two-layer analytical baroclinic model yields a most unstable mode that agrees favorably with the simulations. The calculation of the divergent eddy heat flux shows a substantial rightward (upslope)-directed component downstream of the FBC sill. This region is also associated with a strong baroclinic conversion rate. The above arguments constitute evidence for the generation of unstable plume and mesoscale eddies in the FBC region by baroclinic instability.

Journal

Journal of Physical OceanographyAmerican Meteorological Society

Published: Apr 11, 2014

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