Aspects of the Kelvin wave response to episodic wind forcing Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We describe the oceanic Kelvin pulse response to a single idealized episode of westerly wind stress, using results from linear theory as well as from a 27-level general circulation model. Linear theory predicts that an episode of westerly wind will excite a train of equatorially trapped Kelvin pulses. The amplitude and longitudinal structure of the forced ocean Kelvin pulses varies as a function of baroclinic mode and the wind patch properties. The idealized wind anomaly is also used to drive an ocean general circulation model. When the wind anomaly is weak the model Kelvin response agrees with predictions of linear theory. For more realistic strong forcing there are three important deviations from linear theory: the amplitude of low baroclinic modes increases; the amplitude of higher baroclininc modes decreases; and the phase speed increases. -from Authors

published proceedings

  • Journal of Geophysical Research

altmetric score

  • 3.5

author list (cited authors)

  • Giese, B. S., & Harrison, D. E.

citation count

  • 70

complete list of authors

  • Giese, Benjamin S||Harrison, DE

publication date

  • May 1990