Influence of multiple islands on the hysteresis and dynamics of a western boundary current perturbed by a mesoscale eddy at a gap

The hysteresis of a western boundary current (WBC) flowing across gap and the dynamics mesoscale eddy–WBC interaction with presence two islands in are studied using 1.5-layer ocean model. WBC suggests that facilitate to intrude into basin by shedding eddies compared no-island case, but they promote leap one-island case. from east can induce critical-state shifting penetration vice versa. revealed vorticity balance analysis shows increased (decreased) meridional advection perturbed eddy forces (intrude through) gap. We also present parameter space critical strength variable north–south locations inducing transition. For eddy-shedding leaping regime, regime shift is most sensitive anticyclonic center cyclonic southern It least downstream WBC. upstream northern