Properties of unstable waves in the lower St Lawrence Estuary |
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| Authors: | Gordon Mertz Yves Gratton Jacques A Gagné |
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| Institution: | 1. Département d'Océanographie , Université du Québec à Rimouski , Rimouski, Québec, G5L 3A1;2. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre , Fisheries and Oceans Canada , P.O. Box 5667, St John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5X1;3. Institut Maurice‐Lamontagne , Fisheries and Oceans Canada , P.O. Box 1000, Mont‐Joli, Quebec, G5H 3Z4;4. Institut Maurice‐Lamontagne , Fisheries and Oceans Canada , P.O. Box 1000, Mont‐Joli, Québec, G5H 3Z4 |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The lower St Lawrence Estuary is an interesting case amongst estuaries in that it is wide enough to accommodate the development of mesoscale unstable waves and eddies. These features are generated by the runoff‐driven jet along this body's south shore. We present data yielding estimates of the length, time and velocity scales of these unstable disturbances. To relate these quantities to the dynamics we employ a 2‐layer quasigeos‐trophic instability model featuring realistic lateral shear. All model runs show short time and length scales, e‐folding periods of less than 10 days and wavelengths less than 50 km. |
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