Propagation of the low-modes internal waves through the ocean
Abstract
Low mode internal tides are an important part of the energy budget in the abyssal ocean. To zeroth order their generation is understood, but their subsequent propagation has not been addressed. We study the propagation of these waves through a climatological ocean in order to understand the direction and speed with which they propagate. We find that the speed is strongly influenced by the ocean depth, in particular the group velocity is significantly reduced over shallower topographic features such as the mid-Atlantic Ridge and East-Pacific Rise. The latitude also has a strong effect, gradually decreasing the group velocity as the waves move from the equator, eventually going to zero at the turning latitude. The change of buoyancy frequency at the subtropical front (30-35 degrees) is responsible for a sharp decrease of both group and phase velocity. These results are important for determining where the low-mode tidal energy eventually dissipates.
- Publication:
-
AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUSMOS33B..05R
- Keywords:
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- 4544 Internal and inertial waves;
- 4568 Turbulence;
- diffusion;
- and mixing processes