Interpreting Observed Interactions between Near-Inertial Waves and Mesoscale Eddies ...

• Main Authors: Conn, Scott, Fitzgerald, Joseph, Callies, Jörn
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: arXiv 2023
• Subjects: Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics physics.ao-ph; FOS Physical sciences; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2308.00889; https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.00889

The evolution of wind-generated near-inertial waves (NIWs) is known to be influenced by the mesoscale eddy field, yet it remains a challenge to disentangle the effects of this interaction in observations. NIWs are often modeled using a slab mixed-layer model with no horizontal structure. Here, the theoretical model of Young and Ben Jelloul, which describes the evolution of NIWs in the presence of a slowly-evolving mesoscale eddy field, is compared to observations from a mooring array in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. The model captures the evolution of both the observed NIW amplitude and phase much more accurately than the slab mixed-layer model, and it allows attributing the evolution to specific physical processes. The model reveals that differences in NIW amplitude across the mooring array are caused by refraction of NIWs into anticyclones. Advection and wave dispersion also make non-negligible contributions to the observed wave evolution. Stimulated generation, a process by which mesoscale kinetic energy ... : Submitted to Journal of Physical Oceanography ...