Accession Number:

AD1099215

Title:

Interactions Between Nonlinear Internal Ocean Waves and the Atmosphere

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC WASHINGTON United States

Report Date:

2019-08-14

Abstract:

The heterogeneity in surface roughness caused by transient, nonlinear internal ocean waves is readily observed in coastal waters. However, the quantifiable impact this heterogeneity has on the marine atmospheric surface layer has not been documented. A comprehensive data set collected from a unique ocean platform provided a novel opportunity to investigate the interaction between this internal ocean process and the atmosphere. Relative to the background atmospheric flow, the presence of internal waves drove wind velocity and stress variance. Furthermore, it is shown that the wind gradient adjusts across individual wave fronts, setting up localized shear that enhanced the air-sea momentum flux over the internal wave packet. This process was largely mechanical, though secondary impacts on the bulk humidity variance and gradient were observed. This study provides the first quantitative analysis of this phenomenon and provides insights into submesoscale air-sea interactions over a transient, internal ocean feature.

Descriptive Note:

Journal Article - Open Access

Supplementary Note:

Geophysical Research Letters , 46, 15, 01 Jan 0001, 01 Jan 0001,

Pages:

0009

Communities Of Interest:

Modernization Areas:

Distribution Statement:

Approved For Public Release;

File Size:

1.84MB