linear stability analysis

Subsurface topography shapes Gulf Stream instabilities and eddy formation

Subsurface topography is not a passive backdrop, it actively shapes the Gulf Stream's instabilities and eddy formation. This study uses a two-layer quasi-geostrophic model, combining linear stability analysis with nonlinear simulations, to show how interactions between wave patterns in shallow and deep layers drive perturbation growth. The findings are measurable and empirically grounded. For broader context on Atlantic current behavior, see our related coverage of "Atlantic Current Weakening: Empirical Data Reveals Accelerated Change."