Vortex Patch Dynamics in a Coastal Current

V. F. Kozlov and V. G. Makarov

Pacific Oceanological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia

Received May 27, 1996; in final form, May 19, 1997

Abstract—A two-parametric family of steady-state vortex patches (VP) is constructed for a coastal irrotational
background current over a half-plane induced by a balanced source–sink system at its boundary. Barotropic
quasi-geostrophic approximation and the constant Coriolis parameter were used. The “moment” model is
shown to describe sufficiently well the dependence of steady states on the governing parameters. The structural
instability of VPs constructed and their response to the change in the flow rate are revealed with the contour
dynamics method. Typical examples of VP propagation across the coastal zone in the vicinity of straits, which
are simulated by sources and sinks, are considered.

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