The angular motion of oceanic vortex formations

Abstract

Within the framework of the rigid body hypothesis, the influence of external torques acting on a rotating water lens in a stratified ocean is examined and a hypothesis about the angular motion of objects of such kind is constructed. The structure of the external torques acting on the lens is investigated and their magnitudes and influence on the overall picture of the motion of the lens about its centre of mass are estimated. It is shown that the hydrostatic buoyancy torque is the most important of such torques, it being orders of magnitude greater than the Coriolis torque and the torque due to virtual masses, and also the gravitational torque and other torques. The friction torque can promote stabilization of the angular motion and lead to the appearance of a steady regime. The results obtained are in agreement with the observed motion of oceanic formations.