Area W: Wave processes
Area W focuses on gravity waves in ocean and atmosphere. Gravity waves occur within a fluid or at the interface between two media of different density when the force of gravity or buoyancy tries to restore equilibrium. They exist for example at the surface of the ocean or even within the ocean or atmosphere if the fluid is stratified in density. These latter waves are called internal gravity waves. The projects in area W investigate internal wave processes the ocean and extend new ideas to the atmosphere.
Objectives
Further investigate the ocean, new ideas for the atmosphere
In two projects our scientists will focus on the ocean, i.a. quantifying the generation and propagation of internal waves and extending as well as validating gravity wave closures for the ocean. A third project explores a new parameterisation concepts for gravity waves in the atmosphere.
Specific research questions in Area W are:
- What are dominant mechanisms and processes for gravity waves in the atmosphere and how can we better parameterise them?
- How do gravity waves propagate and dissipate in the ocean and how can we better parameterise the wave effects on the ocean circulation?
Publications
Eden, C., Pollmann, F., & Olbers, D. (2019). Numerical evaluation of energy transfers in internal gravity wave spectra of the ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 49(3), 737-749, doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-18-0075.1.
Voelker, G. S., P. G. Myers, M. Walter and B. R. Sutherland (2019). Generation of Oceanic Internal Gravity Waves by a Cyclonic Surface Stress Disturbance. Dynam. Atmos. Oceans, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2019.03.005.
Czeschel, L. and Eden, C. (2019). Internal wave radiation through surface mixed layer turbulence. J. Phys. Oceanogr., doi:10.1175/JPO-D-18-0214.1.
Eden, C., Chouksey, M., & Olbers, D. (2019). Gravity wave emission by shear instability. J. Phys. Oceanogr.
Köhler, J., Walter, M., Mertens, C., Stiehler, J., Li, Z., Zhao, Z., von Storch, J.-S., & Rhein, M. (2019). Energy flux observations in an internal tide beam in the eastern North Atlantic. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans., Vol. 124 (8), 5747-5764, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JC015156.
Olbers, D., Pollmann, F. & Eden, C. (2020). On PSI interactions in internal gravity wave fields and the decay of baroclinic tides. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 50(3), 751-771, doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-19-0224.1.
Eden, C., Pollmann, F. & Olbers, D. (2020). Towards a global spectral energy budget for internal gravity waves in the ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 50(4), 935-944, doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-19-0022.1.
Olbers, D., Jurgenowski, P., & Eden, C. (2020). A wind-driven model of the ocean surface layer with wave radiation physics. Ocean Dynam. 70, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-020-01376-2.
Pollmann, F. (2020). Global characterization of the ocean’s internal wave spectrum. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 50(7), doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-19-0185.1.
Voelker, G. S., Olbers, D., Walter, M., Mertens, C., & Myers, P. G. (2020). Estimates of Wind Power and Radiative Near-Inertial Internal Wave Flux. The Hybrid Slab Model and Its Application to the North Atlantic. Ocean Dynam. 70, 1357–1376, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-020-01388-y.