Numerical experiments on modon stability to topographic perturbations

A summary of a numerical study of the stability of modons to topographic perturbation is presented. Previous studies have suggested a monotonic relationship between the horizontal scale of the perturbation and the amplitude needed to destroy a modon—as the scale of the perturbation increases the str...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Physics of fluids (1958) 1988-09, Vol.31 (9), p.2562-2566
Main Authors: Carnevale, G. F., Briscolini, M., Purini, R., Vallis, G. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
General circulation. Atmospheric waves
Meteorology
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Summary:A summary of a numerical study of the stability of modons to topographic perturbation is presented. Previous studies have suggested a monotonic relationship between the horizontal scale of the perturbation and the amplitude needed to destroy a modon—as the scale of the perturbation increases the strength needed for destruction decreases. The results presented here show that this relationship does not hold for scales larger than the modon radius. For large‐scale perturbations, the strength needed for destruction again increases. The modon is most stable to perturbations of horizontal scale either much larger or much smaller than the modon radius. Stability graphs are presented for three types of perturbations; ridges, hills, and irregular terrain.
ISSN:0031-9171
2163-4998
DOI:10.1063/1.866533