Article

 

Dynamic instability of stratified shear flow in the upper equatorial Pacific Público Deposited

Contenido Descargable

Descargar PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/k930bz664

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • The role of stratified shear instability in maintaining the deep cycle of turbulence immediately below the equatorial mixed layer is examined by means of linear stability analysis. The Taylor-Goldstein equation is solved numerically, using observed currents and stratification from the Tropical Instability Wave Experiment (TIWE). Multiple unstable modes are found, each associated with a local minimum of the gradient Richardson number. Wave radiation due to the unstable modes fluxes momentum downward through the Equatorial Undercurrent. The frequency, wavelength and propagation direction of the unstable modes are consistent with those estimated from observations of internal waves made during TIWE. These results, in combination with the previous observation that the internal waves are closely associated with deep cycle turbulence, lead us to conclude that shear instability is a dominant factor in the generation of the deep cycle.
Resource Type
DOI
Fecha Disponible
Fecha de Emisión
Citation
  • Sun, C., Smyth, W. D., & Moum, J. N. (1998). Dynamic instability of stratified shear flow in the upper equatorial Pacific. Journal of Geophysical Research, 103, 10337-103232.
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 103
Declaración de derechos
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)
  • National Science Foundation (OCE-8816098, OCE-9314396 and OCE-9521359).
Publisher
Language
Replaces

Relaciones

Parents:

This work has no parents.

Elementos