Meridional and zonal wavenumber dependence in tracer flux in Rossby waves

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dc.contributor.authorBalasuriya, S.
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractEddy-driven jets are of importance in the ocean and atmosphere, and to a first approximation are governed by Rossby wave dynamics. This study addresses the time-dependent flux of fluid and a passive tracer between such a jet and an adjacent eddy, with specific regard to determining zonal and meridional wavenumber dependence. The flux amplitude in wavenumber space is obtained, which is easily computable for a given jet geometry, speed and latitude, and which provides instant information on the wavenumbers of the Rossby waves which maximize the flux. This new tool enables the quick determination of which modes are most influential in imparting fluid exchange, which in the long term will homogenize the tracer concentration between the eddy and the jet. The results are validated by computing backward- and forward-time finite-time Lyapunov exponent fields, and also stable and unstable manifolds; the intermingling of these entities defines the region of chaotic transport between the eddy and the jet. The relationship of all of these to the time-varying transport flux between the eddy and the jet is carefully elucidated. The flux quantification presented here works for general time-dependence, whether or not lobes (intersection regions between stable and unstable manifolds) are present in the mixing region, and is therefore also easily computable for wave packets consisting of infinitely many wavenumbers.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilitySanjeeva Balasuriya
dc.identifier.citationFluids, 2016; 1(3):1-34
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/fluids1030030
dc.identifier.issn2311-5521
dc.identifier.issn2311-5521
dc.identifier.orcidBalasuriya, S. [0000-0002-3261-7940]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/103279
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT130100484
dc.rightsc 2016 by the author; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.3390/fluids1030030
dc.subjectmaximum flux; mid-latitude cyclones; oceanic jets; chaotic transport
dc.titleMeridional and zonal wavenumber dependence in tracer flux in Rossby waves
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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