A new mechanism for the generation of quasi-zonal jets in the ocean
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Flierl_A new mechanism.pdf
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Author(s)
Wang, Jinbo
Spall, Michael A.
Flierl, Glenn Richard
Rizzoli, Paola M
Date Issued
May 2012
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Citation
Wang, Jinbo et al. “A New Mechanism for the Generation of Quasi-zonal Jets in the Ocean.” Geophysical Research Letters 39.10 (2012). ©2012 American Geophysical Union
Version
Final published version
Abstract
A simple barotropic quasi-geostrophic model is used to demonstrate that instabilities radiated from an unstable eastern boundary current can generate zonal striations in the ocean interior with realistic wavelengths and amplitudes. Nonlinear transfer of energy from the more unstable trapped modes is important for radiating modes to overcome friction. The dynamics shown here are generic enough to point to the eastern boundary current as a likely source of the observed striations extending from oceanic eastern boundaries.
MIT Department
Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1029/2012gl051861
