Duan, J. and Wiggins, S.
Nonlinear Stability of One-Layer Geostrophic Fronts
(133K, PostScript)

ABSTRACT.          We study the nonlinear stability of one-layer geostrophic
fronts described by frontal geostrophic equations.  We have showed that
the $\beta$-effect plays a crucial role in the stability of one-layer
geostrophic fronts.  Especially, we have proved that the class of
nonlinearly stable fronts is more restricted when the $\beta$-effect is
present than when it is absent.  This indicates an important difference
between the $\beta$-plane approximation (of the earth's surface) and
the $f$-plane approximation.