Flow Field Properties of Long Propagating Frontal Waves

Abstract

Recent observations of particle paths in the Gulf Stream show clear evidence of strong vertical motion with upwelling approaching anticyclonic turns and sinking approaching cyclonic turns. In a recent paper a simple model of propagating long waves on oceanic fronts was developed based on Stommel's model of the Gulf stream and its wave propagation properties compared with observations. In this paper properties of the associated model flow field, especially the vertical velocity, are examined for comparison with the observations of Rossby et al. Similar phase and amplitude results are found.