Spontaneous generation of organized current from random eddies in the ocean

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A riddle in physical oceanography has been why and how organized currents are generated spontaneously from random eddies in the ocean. In this study, by numerical experiment and dynamic investigation, we have attained several remarkable achievements for (1) Rhines effects, (2) recirculation in the Kuroshio Extension, (3) Neptune effects, (4) baroclinic-instability induced zonal current on a beta plane, (5) mean current with shear of zero absolute vorticity. As for common mechanisms underlying those phenomena, we have revealed important roles of such concepts as (1) nonlinear interaction of three wavenumber components, (2) dispersion relation of Rossby waves, (3) planetary and topographic beta effects, (4) redistribution of momentum and vorticity by Rossby waves, and (5) marginal stability. These results suggest future subjects to be studied and prospective approaches to be explored.