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Internal Swell Generation: The Spatial Distribution of Energy Flux from the Wind to Mixed Layer Near-Inertial Motions

Internal Swell Generation: The Spatial Distribution of Energy Flux from the Wind to Mixed Layer... The energy flux from the wind to inertial mixed layer motions is computed for all oceans from 50°°S to 50°°N for the years 1996––99. The wind stress, ττ , is computed from 6-h, 2.5°°-resolution NCEP––NCAR global reanalysis surface winds. The inertial mixed layer response, u I , and the energy flux, ΠΠ == ττ ·· u I , are computed using a slab model. The validity of the reanalysis winds and the slab model is demonstrated by direct comparison with wind and ADCP velocity records from NDBC buoys. (At latitudes > 50°°, the inertial response is too fast to be resolved by the reanalysis wind 6-h output interval.) Midlatitude storms produce the greatest fluxes, resulting in broad maxima near 40°° latitude during each hemisphere's winter, concentrated in the western portion of each basin. Northern Hemisphere fluxes exceed those in the Southern Hemisphere by about 50%%. The global mean energy flux from 1996 to 1999 and 50°°S to 50°°N is (0.98 ±± 0.08) ×× 10 −−3 W m −−2 , for a total power of 0.29 TW (1 TW == 10 12 W). This total is the same order of magnitude as recent estimates of the global power input to baroclinic M 2 tidal motions, suggesting that wind-generated near-inertial waves may play an important role in the global energy balance. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Physical Oceanography American Meteorological Society

Internal Swell Generation: The Spatial Distribution of Energy Flux from the Wind to Mixed Layer Near-Inertial Motions

Alford, Matthew H.
Journal of Physical Oceanography , Volume 31 (8) – May 23, 2000
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Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 American Meteorological Society
ISSN
1520-0485
DOI
10.1175/1520-0485(2001)031<2359:ISGTSD>2.0.CO;2
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The energy flux from the wind to inertial mixed layer motions is computed for all oceans from 50°°S to 50°°N for the years 1996––99. The wind stress, ττ , is computed from 6-h, 2.5°°-resolution NCEP––NCAR global reanalysis surface winds. The inertial mixed layer response, u I , and the energy flux, ΠΠ == ττ ·· u I , are computed using a slab model. The validity of the reanalysis winds and the slab model is demonstrated by direct comparison with wind and ADCP velocity records from NDBC buoys. (At latitudes > 50°°, the inertial response is too fast to be resolved by the reanalysis wind 6-h output interval.) Midlatitude storms produce the greatest fluxes, resulting in broad maxima near 40°° latitude during each hemisphere's winter, concentrated in the western portion of each basin. Northern Hemisphere fluxes exceed those in the Southern Hemisphere by about 50%%. The global mean energy flux from 1996 to 1999 and 50°°S to 50°°N is (0.98 ±± 0.08) ×× 10 −−3 W m −−2 , for a total power of 0.29 TW (1 TW == 10 12 W). This total is the same order of magnitude as recent estimates of the global power input to baroclinic M 2 tidal motions, suggesting that wind-generated near-inertial waves may play an important role in the global energy balance.

Journal

Journal of Physical Oceanography – American Meteorological Society

Published: May 23, 2000

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