A Model of Vertical Dispersion of Inertial Waves in the Upper Ocean.
Abstract
A linear model of the vertical dispersion of near-inertial waves is developed. A porosity distribution near the bottom of the computational domain minimizes bottom reflections, and simulates an ocean of infinite depth. The model is used to show that the vertical dispersion of near-inertial waves in the upper ocean is sufficient to account for the observed rapid decay of inertial oscillations in the surface layer. When the upper pycnocline is sufficiently peaked, a resonant frequency interference effect is predicted. This effect modulates the dissipation of surface layer inertial oscillations, and their magnitude after a storm need not decay monotonically. We look at deep-ocean observations taken during MILE, and find some suggestive evidence of this interference effect. We also compare model simulations with Baltic Sea observations made by KRAUSS (1981), and show that near-inertial waves reflect off the shallow (105 m) bottom within a few inertial periods after a storm.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA120951
Entities
People
- David M. Rubenstein