Similitude Modeling of Internal Gravity Wave Spectra

Abstract

Internal gravity waves are present in both the ocean and atmosphere. The oceanic gravity wave power spectra have been modeled semi-empirically by Garrett and Munk (1972, 1975) and shown to have 'universal' properties. Their model seems to be useful for atmospheric waves. Recently a similitude type of 'saturation' model for vertical wave number horizontal velocity fluctuation spectra has met with empirical support in the atmosphere. The present paper employs a further similitude argument related to 'cascade' properties which would apply to the frequency and horizontal wave number spectra. Testable consequences are exhibited. If validated the models would provide useful insight into the physics of these waves.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA259981

Entities

People

  • Edmond M. Dewan

Organizations

  • Phillips Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Atmospheres
  • Buoyancy
  • Energy
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Gravity
  • Gravity Waves
  • Internal Waves
  • Physical Theories
  • Physics
  • Power Spectra
  • Saturation
  • Spectra
  • Turbulence
  • Wave Power
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Theoretical Analysis.