The statistical properties of the interaction of high-frequency eddies with mountains in a two-layer model

Long-term integrations of a two-layer quasi-geostrophic model are performed in the presence of idealized topography representing the Alps and the Rocky Mountains. The same techniques applied to observations are applied to the model results. On the one hand, the statistical properties of high-frequency eddies are compared with those deduced from observations. On the other hand, a comparison with the predictions of linear theory is made possible by the use of a linearized version of the same model. Modifications induced by orography in the nonlinear experiments compare well with those predicted by linear theory, including storm-track splitting and changes of eddy structure and symmetry near the two different topographic features.