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Article Dans Une Revue Journal of Physical Oceanography Année : 2021

Near-Inertial Waves and Turbulence Driven by the Growth of Swell

Résumé

Abstract Between 5% and 25% of the total momentum transferred between the atmosphere and ocean is transmitted via the growth of long surface gravity waves called “swell.” In this paper, we use large-eddy simulations to show that swell-transmitted momentum excites near-inertial waves and drives turbulent mixing that deepens a rotating, stratified, turbulent ocean surface boundary layer. We find that swell-transmitted currents are less effective at producing turbulence and mixing the boundary layer than currents driven by an effective surface stress. Overall, however, the differences between swell-driven and surface-stress-driven boundary layers are relatively minor. In consequence, our results corroborate assumptions made in Earth system models that neglect the vertical structure of swell-transmitted momentum fluxes and instead parameterize all air–sea momentum transfer processes with an effective surface stress.

Dates et versions

cea-04485805 , version 1 (01-03-2024)

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Citer

Gregory Wagner, Gregory Chini, Ali Ramadhan, Basile Gallet, Raffaele Ferrari. Near-Inertial Waves and Turbulence Driven by the Growth of Swell. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 2021, 51 (5), pp.1337-1351. ⟨10.1175/JPO-D-20-0178.1⟩. ⟨cea-04485805⟩
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