Vortex–wall interaction on the β-plane and the generation of deep submesoscale cyclones by internal Kelvin Waves–current interactions

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, we investigate the vortex–wall interaction on the β-plane, using a submesoscale and internal waves resolving model in an idealised context. Our results bring new insights on the dynamics of oceanic mesoscale eddies as they drift toward a western boundary. We show that there exists a strong cyclone/anticyclone asymmetry in the interaction, contrary to what was suggested in previous studies: anticyclones cannot drift meridionally along the wall because of internal Kelvin Waves–current interactions. This interaction is shown to be an efficient mechanism to generate small coherent submesoscale cyclones, which can travel hundreds of kilometres into the interior of the ocean.