EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Cairns & Williams 1976
Cairns, J.L. and Williams, G.O. (1976). Internal wave observations from a midwater float, 2. Journal of Geophysical Research 81: doi: 10.1029/JC081i012p01943. issn: 0148-0227.

During June and July of 1974, internal wave records totaling 21 days duration were made at a nominal depth of 350 m in a location 800 km offshore of San Diego, California. The measurements were made with a midwater capsule which profiles temperature while it drifts with the mean flow. The resulting vertical displacement spectra decrease generally as ω-2 between the local inertial frequency ωi and the buoyancy frequency n with a pronounced peak just below n; outside these limits the spectra drop sharply. Vertical coherences are nearly frequency independent between ωi and n with the exception of a peak just below n corresponding to the peak in the displacement spectrum. A low-frequency (0?ω?0.5n) average of coherence (not squared) decreases linearly from 0.99 at 1-m separation to 0.85 at 36-m separation. This result suggests that modal energy is distributed with mode number j as (j2+j*2)-1, where j*?3. Phase spectra averaged over the same interval indicate little or no net vertical transport of energy. The wave spectra are consistent with those of a stationary Gaussian process for periods up to 12 hours.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit