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