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    Predicting eddy detachment from thin jets

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    Ralph_Thesis (14.54Mb)
    Date
    1991-08
    Author
    Ralph, Elise A.  Concept link
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    Citable URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5477
    Location
    Gulf Stream
    DOI
    10.1575/1912/5477
    Keyword
     Ocean currents; Shear flow; Fluid dynamics 
    Abstract
    Using a semi-geostrophic, reduced gravity thin jet model, we analytically study the evolution of initial meanders into pinched-off rings. The model used is similar to the path equation developed by Flierl and Robinson {1984) for vertically coherent meanders. However, in the present model, the meanders are baroclinic, and a stretching term arises due to the motion of the interface. It can be shown that the equation governing the time-dependent meander of this jet (Pratt, 1988) can be transformed into the Modified Korteweg- deVries (MKdV) equation in intrinsic coordinates. The MKdV equation admits two types of solitary wave solutions, loop solitons and breathers. The breathers are permanent meanders which propagate on the path , and some are able to form rings. Using the inverse scattering transform , we can predict breather and ring formation for simple initial meanders. The inverse scattering t ransform is applied to S and Ω shaped meanders with piecewise constant and continuous curvature. S shaped meanders, or steps, must be multi-valued to form breathers, and must have very steep angles in order to form rings. Due to integral constraints, Ω shaped meanders, or lobes, are unable to pinch together to form rings unless they are wide enough so that the two side flanks of the lobe act as two independent steps. The numerical solutions indicate that the breathers predicted by the inverse scattering is a very good approximation to the full solution.
    Description
    Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution August 1991
    Collections
    • Physical Oceanography (PO)
    • WHOI Theses
    Suggested Citation
    Thesis: Ralph, Elise A., "Predicting eddy detachment from thin jets", 1991-08, DOI:10.1575/1912/5477, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5477
     

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