Stability of a front separating water masses with different stratifications

摘要

The linear instability of a narrow current flowing eastward between two semi-infinite watr masses of different mean stratification is studied with a multi-mode quasi-geostrophic model. The mean stratification in each domain has an exponential profile. The current is symmetric about the vertical plane separating the two water masses and its vertical profile is determined by the difference between the mean stratification of the two domains, as imposed by the thermal-wind equation.