The beta drift of three-dimensional vortices: a numerical study

Abstract

The vertical structure of vortex circulation influences steady translation in a manner similar to that of the horizontal structure. Both spatially change the mean relative angular momentum (MRAM) of the vortex. The translation speed and its meridional component are both approximately proportional to the square root of the magnitude of MRAM of the initial (or quasi-steady-state) symmetric circulation. The latitude is another important factor controlling the speed of the beta drift. The meriodional component decreases by about 45% when the central latitude of the vortex increases from 1° to 30°N. -from Authors