"Inertially Unstable Currents and Internal Waves" In the ocean, inertial instability is thought to be the primary mechanism that maintains anticyclonic shears and vortices at stable and marginally stable values. This project will utilize a series of numerical simulations to study the evolution of inertial instability in detail. Theoretical predictions will be made for the occurrence and physical location of the instabilities initial growth from a variety of ocean models of vortices and currents. Both methods will be used to help determine the nature of the internal wave radiation that is generated by the inertial instability. Analytical and numerical work will then be undertaken to investigate the complex behavior of packets of dimensions and amplitudes consistent with the oceanic investigations.
