Impact of nonlinear processes on formation of the Kuroshio large meander path in a barotropic inflow-outflow model

Abstract

Based on a barotropic inflow-outflow model, we examine the formation of the Kuroshio large meander (LM) using conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) method. Both linear and nonlinear evolutions of such perturbations obtained by this method are investigated. The results show that the nonlinear evolution can result in the Kuroshio transition from a straight to LM path, whereas the linear evolution cannot. This implies that nonlinearity plays an important role in the formation of the Kuroshio LM path. The nonlinearity exists as advection in the evolution equations of the perturbation derived from the barotropic inflow-outflow model, namely the nonlinear advection of the perturbation by the perturbation (NAPP). By examining the role of this nonlinearity, we find that the NAPP tends to move the cyclonic eddy induced by the CNOP-type perturbation westward. Together with the beta effect, this offsets part of the eastward advection caused by the interaction between the perturbation and the background flow. Hence, the eastward movement of the cyclonic eddy is significantly weakened, effectively causing the eddy to develop. The sufficient evolution of this cyclonic eddy leads to the formation of the Kuroshio LM.