Interactions of point vortices in the Zabusky-McWilliams model with a background flow

Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied MathematicsMathematical Institute, University of Oxford,24{29 St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3LB, United KingdomAbstract. We combine a simple quasi-geostrophic ow model with the Zabusky-McWilliams theory of atmospheric vortex dynamics to address a hurricane-tracking problem of interest to the insurance industry. This enables us tomake predictions about the \follow-my-leader" phenomenon.