On the Dynamics of Flows Induced by Topographic Ridges

Abstract

his study describes a nonlocal mechanism for the generation of oceanic alternating jets by topographic ridges. The dynamics of these jets is examined using a baroclinic quasigeostrophic model configured with an isolated meridional ridge. The zonal topographic slopes of the ridge lead to the formation of a system of currents, consisting of mesoscale eddies, meridional currents over the ridge, and multiple zonal jets in the far field. Dynamical analysis shows that transient eddies are vital in sustaining the deep meridional currents over the ridge, which in turn play a key role in the upper-layer potential vorticity (PV) balance. The zonal jets in the rest of the domain owe their existence to the eddy forcing over the ridge but are maintained by the local Reynolds and form stress eddy forcing. The analysis further shows that a broad stable current that either becomes locally nonzonal or encounters a topographic ridge tends to become unstable. This instability provides a vorticity source and generates multiple zonal jets in the far field through a nonlocal mechanism.