Ocean Modeling Discussion

Dear all,

I want to create an idealized warm ocean eddy (symmetric structure in terms of temperature). I used several temperature profiles to make the initial condition, but the structure was a square area as shown in following figure. Do you have any idea about how to create the initial condition to get a more realistic eddy (circular).

Thanks in advance.

Alex

This solves a different problem but creates an initial shape with circular symmetry:
Did you take geometry courses?

a square vortex is possible, but you need some resonant vortex Rossby waves. See this plot by Schubert et al. (1999). I also heard that G. Roullet (LPO, France) has presented some results at the Ocean Sciences meeting where he could make a square vortex using some flux-corrected advection schemes ...

I recall my undergrad adviser (physical oceanography) saying: I am sure you can find a square wave in the ocean. That actually makes sense if one thinks in terms of representing waves as a linear combination of trigonometric functions (Fourier series) -- you get a square with two step functions and you can approximate a step function by adding the right sines and cosines (i.e. the right waves) and in fact you don't even need too many terms in the series to get a decent convergence. Thus in physical ocean it is conceivable that if the right waves add up and you get a square. The question is how much will the square last?

That is a very interesting example Patrick, it proves my adviser right, and it looks like it lasted for about an hour or two ...

Patrick's example is pretty cool, but Alex could try starting from his square and seeing what happens - might be fun!

Guys, thanks very much for all your suggestions . I will try it.