Development of eddies in a shelf slope area 
due to an along slope jet.

Thiem, Ø., Berntsen, J. and Gjevik, B.

Jonsmod 2004.
Warnemünde, Germany, 2004, June 14 - 17, oral presentation.

Abstract:
Measurements of the inflow of Atlantic water to the Norwegian Sea show that 
it forms a narrow jet along the shelf slope in the Svinøy and Ormen Lange
sections west of mid Norway.

The main density stratification is between the relatively warm Atlantic water 
(on top), and the cold Norwegian Sea bottom water (below). The interface 
between the two water masses is sharp and located at 500-600m depth. Eddies 
with periods around 40-70 hours are found to develop in the flow of the 
Atlantic water.

A three-dimensional sigma-coordinate model is used to study the formation of 
eddies in an idealized shelf area with a constant jet. The growth of dominating 
Fourier modes in a barotropic simulation and a two layer simulation with 
barotropic flow is studied. The growth rates are compared to corresponding 
results from linear stability analysis. 

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