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Vortex merger near a topographic slope in a homogeneous rotating fluid

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Abstract

The effect of a bottom slope on the merger of two identical Rankine vortices is investigated in a two-dimensional, quasi-geostrophic, incompressible fluid.

When two cyclones initially lie parallel to the slope, and more than two vortex diameters away from the slope, the critical merger distance is unchanged. When the cyclones are closer to the slope, they can merge at larger distances, but they lose more mass into filaments, thus weakening the efficiency of merger. Several effects account for this: the topographic Rossby wave advects the cyclones, reduces their mutual distance and deforms them. This alongshelf wave breaks into filaments and into secondary vortices which shear out the initial cyclones. The global motion of fluid towards the shallow domain and the erosion of the two cyclones are confirmed by the evolution of particles seeded both in the cyclones and near the topographic slope. The addition of tracer to the flow indicates that diffusion is ballistic at early times.

For two anticyclones, merger is also facilitated because one vortex is ejected offshore towards the other, via coupling with a topographic cyclone. Again two anticyclones can merge at large distance but they are eroded in the process.

Finally, for taller topographies, the critical merger distance is again increased and the topographic influence can scatter or completely erode one of the two initial cyclones.

Conclusions are drawn on possible improvements of the model configuration for an application to the ocean.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Oceanographie Physique et Spatiale, Institut Universitaire Europeen de la Mer, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, rue Dumont d’Urville, 29280, Plouzane, France

    Xavier Carton & Mathieu Morvan

  2. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Saint Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, Fife, Scotland, UK

    Jean N. Reinaud

  3. Institute of Water Problems of the the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Gubkina 3, Moscow, 119333, Russia

    Mikhail A. Sokolovskiy

  4. Meteorology and Physical Oceanography Department, Rosenstiel School of Marine Sciences, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA

    Pierre L’Hegaret

  5. University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    Clément Vic

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  1. Xavier Carton
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  2. Mathieu Morvan
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  4. Mikhail A. Sokolovskiy
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  5. Pierre L’Hegaret
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  6. Clément Vic
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Correspondence to Xavier Carton.

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Carton, X., Morvan, M., Reinaud, J.N. et al. Vortex merger near a topographic slope in a homogeneous rotating fluid. Regul. Chaot. Dyn. 22, 455–478 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1134/S156035471705001X

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S156035471705001X

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