Theory 07/Ocean eddies/Rate lens
Eddies Grow at Instability Rate
The claim
Eddy kinetic energy is set by the rate of baroclinic instability growth rather than by the available potential energy.
01Mechanism
Energy is released only as fast as the instability converts it; a large reservoir with slow growth produces weak eddies.
02Prediction
Eddy energy should track growth rate at equal potential energy.
03Refutation
Eddy energy tracking potential energy would remove the rate.