Zonal jets in the Pacific Ocean

Abstract

The spatial and temporal properties of zonally coherent jet-like structures found in high resolution ocean models is examined. We focus on the Pacific Ocean. We find the properties of the jets are not very sensitive to the model configuration. Distinct differences are found in the persistence and vertical structure of the jets poleward of 30°N and S compared with those in the tropics. We make a quantitative comparison between the meridional scale of the jets and the Rhines scale. We find a local scaling applies in that the horizontal variation of the meridional scale of the jets is consistent with horizontal variations in the Rhines scale. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.