Westward Motion of Mesoscale Eddies

Abstract

Since the pioneering work of Nof, the determination of the westward drift of mesoscale eddies under the planetary (beta) effect has been a recurrent theme in mesoscale oceanography, and several different formulae have been proposed in the literature. Here, recpatiulation is sought, and, within the confines of a single-layer model, a generalized formula is derived. Although it is similar to Nof's, the present formula is established from a modified definition and with fewer assumptions. It also recaptiulates all other formulae for the one-layer model and applies to a wide variety of situations, including cases when the vortex develops a wake of Rossby waves or undergoes axismmetrization. Following the derivation of the formula, a physical interpretation clarifies the migration mechanism, which can be divided between a self-induced propulsion and a reaction from the displaced ambient fluid. Numerical simulations with primitive and geostrophic equations validate the formula for a variety of length scales and amplitudes. The work concludes with an attempt to extend the result to systems with two moving layers.