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Abstract The dynamics of gap-leaping western boundary currents (e.g. the Kuroshio intrusion, the Loop Current) are explored through rotating table experiments and a numerical model designed to replicate the experimental apparatus. Simplified experimental and numerical models of gap-leaping systems are known to exhibit two dominant states (leaping or penetrating into the gap) as the inertia of the current competes with vorticity constraints (in this case the β -effect). These systems are also known to admit multiple states with hysteresis. To advance towards more realistic oceanographic scenarios, recent studies have explored the effects of islands, mesoscale eddies, and variable baroclinic deformation radii on the dynamical system. Here, the effect of throughflow forcing is considered, with particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) used in the lab experiments. Mean transport in or out of the gap is found to significantly shift the hysteresis range as well as change its width. Because of these transformations, changes in throughflow can induce transitions in the gap-leaping system when near a critical state (leaping-to-penetrating/ penetrating-to-leaping). Results from the study are interpreted within a nonlinear dynamical framework and various properties of the system are explored. 

The classic oceanographic problem of a 1.5-layer western boundary current evolving along a straight wall is considered. Here, building upon the previous work of Charney, Huang and Kamenkovich, we have derived, solved and validated a new numerical formulation for accounting for viscous effects in such systems. The numerical formulation is validated against rotating table experimental results.