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Deep equatorward propagation of inertial oscillations
Author(s) -
Chiswell Stephen M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl017057
Subject(s) - current meter , abyssal zone , inertial wave , geology , buoyancy , inertial frame of reference , geophysics , geodesy , physics , mooring , spectral line , neutral buoyancy , mechanics , wave propagation , classical mechanics , longitudinal wave , oceanography , optics , astronomy , mechanical wave
Garrett [2001] points out that inertial oscillations can only propagate equatorwards. As they do so, they undergo steepening of their ray angles, and eventually the energy arrives at abyssal depths some distance equatorward of their origin. Here I show that with a given buoyancy frequency, there is a unique frequency for inertial waves that pass through any particular current meter location. Spectra from moorings off New Zealand show peaks at the predicted frequencies, and are presented in support of Garrett's theory.