Coastal countercurrent and mesoscale eddy formation by tidal rectification near an oceanic cape.

Abstract

Coastal current and rotating mesoscale baroclinic eddies near the southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, were studied. The flow structure suggested that rectification of the strong tidal currents was the main cause of the residual circulation in the vicinity of the cape. Results from an analytical model simulation of the residual circulation are presented.