TY - JOUR
T1 - Oceanic eddies induce a rapid formation of an internal wave continuum
AU - Yang, Luwei
AU - Barkan, Roy
AU - Srinivasan, Kaushik
AU - McWilliams, James C.
AU - Shakespeare, Callum J.
AU - Gibson, Angus H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Oceanic internal waves are a major driver for turbulent mixing in the ocean, which controls the global overturning circulation and the oceanic heat and carbon transport. Internal waves are observed to have a continuous energy distribution across all wave frequencies and scales, commonly known as the internal wave continuum, despite being forced at near-inertial and tidal frequencies at large scales. This internal wave continuum is widely thought to be developed primarily through wave-wave interactions. Here we show, using realistic numerical simulations in the subpolar North Atlantic, that oceanic eddies rapidly distribute large-scale wind-forced near-inertial wave energy across spatio-temporal scales, thereby forming an internal wave continuum within three weeks. As a result, wave energy dissipation patterns are controlled by eddies and are substantially enhanced below the mixed layer. The efficiency of this process potentially explains why a phase lag between high-frequency and near-inertial wave energy was observed in eddy-poor regions but not in eddy-rich regions. Our findings highlight the importance of eddies in forming an internal wave continuum and in controlling upper ocean mixing patterns.
AB - Oceanic internal waves are a major driver for turbulent mixing in the ocean, which controls the global overturning circulation and the oceanic heat and carbon transport. Internal waves are observed to have a continuous energy distribution across all wave frequencies and scales, commonly known as the internal wave continuum, despite being forced at near-inertial and tidal frequencies at large scales. This internal wave continuum is widely thought to be developed primarily through wave-wave interactions. Here we show, using realistic numerical simulations in the subpolar North Atlantic, that oceanic eddies rapidly distribute large-scale wind-forced near-inertial wave energy across spatio-temporal scales, thereby forming an internal wave continuum within three weeks. As a result, wave energy dissipation patterns are controlled by eddies and are substantially enhanced below the mixed layer. The efficiency of this process potentially explains why a phase lag between high-frequency and near-inertial wave energy was observed in eddy-poor regions but not in eddy-rich regions. Our findings highlight the importance of eddies in forming an internal wave continuum and in controlling upper ocean mixing patterns.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85179939464&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s43247-023-01137-1
DO - 10.1038/s43247-023-01137-1
M3 - Article
VL - 4
JO - Communications Earth and Environment
JF - Communications Earth and Environment
IS - 1
M1 - 484
ER -