On the Mixing Enhancement in a Meandering Jet Due to the Interaction with an Eddy

Abstract

The interaction between a simple meandering jet such as the Gulf Stream, and an eddy is shown to greatly enhance the mixing and dispersal of fluid parcels in the jet. This enhanced mixing is quantified by calculating the rate of increase of the root-mean-square pair separation of Lagrangian particles (e.g., floats) launched in the jet's immediate vicinity. In the presence of an eddy, particles can escape from the regions in which they were initially launched. Comparisons with observations show a markedly improved qualitative agreement when the eddy is allowed to interact with the meandering jet.