The influence of an upper thermocline current on intrathermocline eddies

Abstract

In this study, the effect of an upper-layer current on the propagation of intermediate vortices, such as Mediterranean Water eddies, is investigated. The author discusses the advection mechanism proposed by Hogg and Stommel and shows how the vertical shear of the mean current can also modify the dynamics of an eddy, acting as a gradient source of background potential vorticity. -Author