Results from the laboratory experiments on the evolution of vortices (eddies) generated in a rotating tank with topographic β-effect are presented. The focus of the experiments is on the far-field flow which contains Rossby waves emitted by travelling vortices. The surface elevation and velocity fields are measured by the altimetric imaging velocimetry. The experiments are supplemented by shallow water numerical simulations as well as a linear theory which describes the Rossby wave radiation by travelling vortices. The cyclonic vortices observed in the experiments travel to the northwest and continuously radiate Rossby waves. Measurements show that initially axisymmetric vortices develop a dipolar component which enables them to perform translational motion. A pattern of alternating zonal jets to the west of the vortex is created by Rossby waves with approximately zonal crests. Energy spectra of the flows in the wavenumber space indicate that a wavenumber similar to that introduced by Rhines for turbulent flows on the β-plane can be introduced here. The wavenumber is based on the translational speed of a vortex rather than on the root-mean-square velocity of a turbulent flow. The comparison between the experiments and numerical simulations demonstrates that evolving vortices also emit inertial waves. While these essentially three-dimensional non-hydrostatic waves can be observed in the altimetric data, they are not accounted for in the shallow water simulations.
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July 2015
Research Article|
July 21 2015
Rossby wave radiation by an eddy on a beta-plane: Experiments with laboratory altimetry
Y. Zhang;
Y. Zhang
Memorial University of Newfoundland
, St. John’s, Newfoundland A1B 3X7, Canada
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Y. D. Afanasyev
Y. D. Afanasyev
a)
Memorial University of Newfoundland
, St. John’s, Newfoundland A1B 3X7, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: afanai@mun.ca. URL: http://www.physics.mun.ca/~yakov.
Physics of Fluids 27, 076604 (2015)
Article history
Received:
February 23 2015
Accepted:
July 03 2015
Citation
Y. Zhang, Y. D. Afanasyev; Rossby wave radiation by an eddy on a beta-plane: Experiments with laboratory altimetry. Physics of Fluids 1 July 2015; 27 (7): 076604. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4926979
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