Since oceanic eddies migrate westward, they eventually reach the western boundaries of the oceans. Therefore, it is of interest to find out in which direction a surface eddy moves after eddies collide with walls. First, we show analytically that, as a result of the image effect, a cyclone moves southward whereas an anticyclone translates northward along a wall. Then, we use an isopycnic, two-layer, primitive equation, numerical model on a $\beta$-plane to study the image effect, the $\beta$-force, and the "rocket" effect altogether. It is numerically found that, out of these three mechanisms, the image effect is the most dominant one in determining the eddy's final migration along the wall. Finally, it is analytically found that, in the presence of an offshore-sloping-down bottom, the topographic effect tends to causes a bottom eddy to migrate southward along the wall. / Our second aim is to study the detailed temporal evolution of an eddy colliding with a wall on an f-plane using a barotropic, as well as a one-and-a-half-layer contour dynamics model. At t = 0, the circular eddy is conceptually cut off by the wall. It is found that, for t $>$ 0, part of the eddy's fluid is gradually advected along the wall and forms a new eddy. Then, the new eddy migrates away from the parent eddy due to the image effect. The results of this contour dynamics study are confirmed by those of the isopycnic, primitive equation model on an f-plane. / Possible applications of these models to various oceanic situations are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-11, Section: B, page: 5622. / Major Professor: Doron Nof. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76818 |
| Contributors | Shi, Chuan., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 114 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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