Simulation of frontal eddies on the East Florida Shelf

[1] Frontal eddies are typical features on the cyclonic side of the Florida Current (FC) along the East Florida Shelf (EFS), producing characteristic "shingle'' patterns in sea surface temperature. Intensive observations and idealized numerical analyses have described such eddies over the past three decades. Here, simulations from a high-resolution (2 to 10 km), curvilinear coastal ocean circulation model demonstrate their structure and evolution with realistic bottom topography and FC over an extended domain including the Straits of Florida and the entire EFS. Simulations agree with observations in estimating translation speed, recurrence period, strength, characteristic length-scales, and overall circulation patterns. In addition, the simulations demonstrate the interactions between the frontal eddies and the meander crests and bottom topography as they translate along the EFS. Overall, a first level of model validation has been established that will facilitate consideration of the forecast problem for frontal eddies associated with the FC on the EFS.