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| Titel |
Inertia-Gravity Waves Emitted from Balanced Flow: Observations, Properties, and Consequences |
| VerfasserIn |
P. D. Williams, T. W. N. Haine, P. L. Read |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250019279
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| Zusammenfassung |
| This paper describes laboratory observations of inertia-gravity waves emitted from balanced
fluid flow. In a rotating two-layer annulus experiment, the wavelength of the inertia-gravity
waves is very close to the deformation radius. Their amplitude varies linearly with
Rossby number in the range 0.05–0.14, at constant Burger number (or rotational
Froude number). This linear scaling challenges the notion, suggested by several
dynamical theories, that inertia-gravity waves generated by balanced motion will be
exponentially small. It is estimated that the balanced flow leaks roughly 1% of
its energy each rotation period into the inertia-gravity waves at the peak of their
generation.
The findings of this study imply an inevitable emission of inertia-gravity waves at Rossby
numbers similar to those of the large-scale atmospheric and oceanic flow. Extrapolation of the
results suggests that inertia-gravity waves might make a significant contribution to the energy
budgets of the atmosphere and ocean. In particular, emission of inertia-gravity waves from
mesoscale eddies may be an important source of energy for deep interior mixing in the ocean. |
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