Open AccessMinimum and maximum propagation frequencies for internal gravity waves
Author(s) -
Jones R. Michael
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2005jd006189
Subject(s) - wkb approximation , baroclinity , internal wave , physics , gravity wave , dispersion relation , dispersion (optics) , wavenumber , gravitational wave , wave propagation , vorticity , mechanics , classical mechanics , geophysics , computational physics , optics , astrophysics , vortex , quantum mechanics
Estimates of the effects of vorticity, baroclinicity, and rate of strain on the minimum and maximum propagation frequencies of gravity waves are given using a general dispersion relation for internal waves in the atmosphere and ocean. Rotating the coordinate axes to eliminate from the dispersion relation cross terms in the wavenumber makes it much easier to determine the minimum and maximum frequencies for which gravity waves can propagate. Corrections to the minimum frequency from breakdown of the WKB approximation are included.