Mixing and Radiation in Tropical Instability Waves

将赤道流的线性稳定性理论扩展到包括波辐射和垂直混频。将利用平均状态的精确表示，包括辐射边界条件和垂直混合的参数化，对赤道流系统进行模态稳定性分析。扩展的理论和分析将用于检验罗斯比型和柳井型热带不稳定波。理论结果将与卫星测高、TAO系泊和微观结构剖面数据综合。该项目有可能通过改进或改变我们对一个重要海洋特征的理解来影响我们对气候的理解。该项目将重新审视经典的线性理论，以纳入能够解释辐射和能量混合的效应。虽然许多热带不稳定性研究的重点往往是分析复杂的环流模式，但拟议的工作有望阐明控制赤道流稳定性的基本过程及其对海洋结构和动力学的后续影响。此外，研究结果有助于解决赤道洋流稳定性的长期问题，即它们从哪里获得能量以及如何表现出来。除了更广泛的科学影响外，这项研究还将支持研究生的培训。

Linear stability theory of equatorial currents will be extended to include wave radiation and vertical mixing. Modal stability analyses of the equatorial current system will be performed using accurate representations of the mean state, including radiation boundary conditions and parameterizations of vertical mixing. The extended theory and analyses will be used to examine both Rossby and Yanai type tropical instability waves. Theoretical results will be synthesized with data from satellite altimetry, TAO moorings, and microstructure profiling.The project has the potential to impact our understanding of climate by refining or changing our understanding of an important oceanic feature. The project will revisit classical linear theory to incorporate effects that can account for radiation and mixing of energy. While the focus of many studies of tropical instabilities is often to analyze complex circulation models, the proposed work promises to shed light on the fundamental processes that govern the stability of equatorial currents and their subsequent effects on ocean structure and dynamics. In addition, the results could help to settle long standing questions over the stability of equatorial currents - namely where they obtain their energy and how they manifest. In addition to the scientific broader impacts, the study will support the training of a graduate student.