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Detailed Reference Information |
Musman, S. (1989). Sea height wave form in equatorial waves and its interpretation. Journal of Geophysical Research 94: doi: 10.1029/88JC04171. issn: 0148-0227. |
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In a previous paper a variation in sea slope of 1.6¿0.6 cm per degree of latitude between 2 ¿N and 4 ¿N in Seasat altimeter data was associated with the passage of two temperature crests between 113 ¿W and 130 ¿W in the equatorial Pacific. This work has been extended to include variations in sea height between 1.5 ¿S and 9 ¿N with arbitrary phase in wave. A mean wave pattern was found with maximum amplitude of 5 cm near 6 ¿N. When the analysis was repeated for a range of wave periods, two preferred values are selected by minimum residuals. A period of 38.6¿2.2 days corresponds with the passage of two observed temperature crests. A period of 22.2¿0.9 days includes both these two crests and a possible intermediate crest of smaller amplitude. Fluctuating velocities in geostrophic equilibrium with the mean wave height are combined with a mean zonal flow to derive streamlines in a coordinate system moving westward with the phase velocity of the mean wave. One streamline shows the trochoidal form of the temperature front at about the appropriate latitude. Velocity field dependent estimates of the latitude of the crest and the angle of the crest are made. Flow immediately north of this streamline exhibits clockwise gyres near each trough. I suggest that this is the basic pattern of the observed form and motions in the waves. Also, selected streamlines are used to compute idealized drifter trajectories and compared with observations. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1989 |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Oceanography, General, Equatorial oceanography, Oceanography, General, Remote sensing and electromagnetic processes, Oceanography, Physical, Eddies and mesoscale processes, Oceanography, Physical, Internal and inertial waves |
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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 |
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