Large Amplitude Solitary Waves Observed During TOGA COARE

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9415979 Merrifield During the TOGA COARE experiment, an extensive set of observations concentrated in the Intensive Flux Array (IFA) documented the unexpected occurrence of large amplitude internal wave trains propagating towards the northwest with a seemingly permanent form. These distinctive features are associated with near-surface current speeds of about 1m/s and downward displacements in the thermocline of approximately 50 meters. Much like solitary waves observed in other locations, these events are closely linked with the semidiurnal tide; this suggests that barotropic tidal flow over island ridge topography in the vicinity of the observation site may contribute to their generation. This project seeks to (1) examine the effects of background conditions, particularly the strong vertical shear associated with the large-scale equatorial current systems, on the solitary wave groups; (2) compare finite-depth wave theory with the observed wave structure, propagation speed, and attenuation; and, (3) investigate the processes that may lead to wave generation.