Seasonal variability in meanders of the California Current System off Vancouver Island

摘要: Satellite infrared images taken over the past few years reveal seasonal variations in meanders of California Current System (CCS) off Vancouver Island. The CCS exhibits with wavelength between 120 and 150 km both winter spring, when upper ocean current all flows northwestward or southeastward, respectively. In summer, includes Undercurrent, which beneath southeastward surface has shorter (75–80 km) meanders. Around end August, these scale are engulfed by longer Finally, fall, eddies detached from offshore extensions A linear stability theory using a four-layer model successfully predicts wavelengths but not summer fall. meander evolution observed fall is instead simulated nonlinear numerical domain topographic obstacles selected to match alongshore continental slope. features spatial periodicity 75 act as trigger initiate short (75 meanders; following this, grow because baroclinic instability. 75-km meanders, have grown large amplitudes, replaced (150 interactions two scales Cyclonic finally shed