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Evidence for nonlinear interaction between internal waves of inertial and semidiurnal frequency

1998; American Geophysical Union; Volume: 25; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1029/98gl00722

1944-8007

S. F. Mihaly, Richard E. Thomson, Alexander B. Rabinovich,

Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies

Observational evidence is presented for pervasive nonlinear interaction between inertial and M 2 frequency oscillations in the northeast Pacific. Enhanced currents at the sum frequency (termed the “ f M 2 frequency”) have the rotary spectral properties of freely propagating waves suggesting permanent energy exchange from the inertial and semidiurnal bands to the f M 2 band. The interaction may be responsible for the greater than predicted decay of inertial energy observed in the ocean and may contribute significantly to oceanic mixing.