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Evidence for nonlinear interaction between internal waves of inertial and semidiurnal frequency
Author(s) -
Mihaly Steven F.,
Thomson Richard E.,
Rabinovich Alexander B.
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1029/98gl00722
Subject(s) - inertial frame of reference , nonlinear system , mixing (physics) , internal wave , physics , inertial wave , energy exchange , geophysics , frequency band , low frequency , geology , energy (signal processing) , mechanics , classical mechanics , atmospheric sciences , wave propagation , mechanical wave , optics , longitudinal wave , computer network , bandwidth (computing) , quantum mechanics , computer science , astronomy
Observational evidence is presented for pervasive nonlinear interaction between inertial and M 2 frequency oscillations in the northeast Pacific. Enhanced currents at the sum frequency (termed the “ f M 2 frequency”) have the rotary spectral properties of freely propagating waves suggesting permanent energy exchange from the inertial and semidiurnal bands to the f M 2 band. The interaction may be responsible for the greater than predicted decay of inertial energy observed in the ocean and may contribute significantly to oceanic mixing.