Enhanced vertical propagation of storm-induced near-inertial energy in an eddying ocean channel model

Journal article

The interaction between inertial oscillations generated by a storm and a mesoscale eddy field is studied using a Southern Ocean channel model. It is shown that the leakage of near-inertial energy out of the surface layer is strongly enhanced by the presence of the eddies, with the anticyclonic eddies acting as a conduit to the deep ocean. Given the ubiquity of the atmospheric storm tracks (a source of near-inertial energy for the ocean) and regions of strong ocean mesoscale variability, we argue that this effect could be important for understanding pathways by which near-inertial energy enters the ocean and is ultimately available for mixing. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.

Authors: Zhai, X; Greatbatch, R; Zhao, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 18
• Pages: 1-4
• Publication date: 2005-09-16
• DOI: 10.1029/2005GL023643
• ISSN: 0094-8276
• Language: English