Mixing and Radiation in Tropical Instability Waves

热带不稳定波中的混合和辐射

• 批准号: 1030772
• 负责人: William Smyth
• 金额: $ 61.59万
• 依托单位: Oregon State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-15 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1030772&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mixing; Radiation; Tropical; Instability; Waves

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.

赤道海流的线性稳定性理论将扩展到包括波浪辐射和垂直混合。赤道海流系统的模式稳定性分析将使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。扩展的理论和分析将用于研究Rossby和Yanai型热带不稳定波。理论结果将与卫星测高、TAO系泊和微结构剖面图的数据相结合。该项目有可能通过完善或改变我们对重要海洋特征的理解来影响我们对气候的理解。该项目将重新探讨经典的线性理论，以纳入可以解释能量辐射和混合的影响。虽然许多热带不稳定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支配赤道流稳定的基本过程及其随后对海洋结构和动力学的影响。此外，这些结果可能有助于解决有关赤道洋流稳定性的长期问题--即它们从哪里获得能量以及它们是如何表现出来的。除了科学上更广泛的影响外，这项研究还将支持研究生的培训。