Gulf Stream meanders over steep topography

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1993

Abstract

Observations of the Gulf Stream thermocline as it meanders over the continental slope off Cape Hatteras are presented. The sections reveal that the Gulf Stream front systematically shoals when it meanders offshore, an effect not observed farther downstream. This is accompanied by a compression of the main thermocline that in turn increases the core velocity of the jet but has little effect on overall transport. To explain this shoaling, the Gulf Stream is treated as a two-layer flow; the lower layer vorticity balance suggests that the shoaling is caused by deep water columns preserving their layer thickness in the presence of the steep topography. -from Authors

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Geophysical Research

Volume

98

Issue

4

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS