Influence of the beta-effect on dynamics of frontal temperature jets

Abstract

The theory of temperature jets gets extended to account for the influence of the beta effect on their dynamics. Including this effect noticeably changes symmetry properties and laws of conservation inherent to models without the beta effect. Specifically nontrivial, the dynamics of jets become near the equator, where the model admits multi-valued solutions that look like jets crossing the equator. For example, the so-called loop solitons moving along the equator with velocities inversely proportional to the cube of their amplitude turn out among them. Estimates based on simple qualitative considerations show that, owing to the beta effect, the temperature jets can form a specific equatorial turbulence, in which they play the role of structural elements. Notably, the spectral slope of the energy density at large wave numbers in such turbulence becomes equal to unity.