The Instability of a Baroclinic Vortex

Abstract

An experimental study is made of a baroclinic vortex produced in a two-layer fluid. After the equivalence between the experiment and the heated annulus experiment of Hide is established, it is argued that the Potential energy of the stratification is the source for wave-like instabilities which develop and split the vortex into separate, distinct circulations. The stability of sonic mesoscale oceanic vortices is examined.