Stimulated Imbalance and the Enhancement of Eddy Kinetic Energy Dissipation by Internal Waves

• DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-16-0117.1
• Publication Date: 2016-11-22T19:53:31Z
• Authors: Roy Barkan; Kraig B. Winters; James C. McWilliams
• Keywords: Energy cascade; Forcing (mathematics); Wavenumber

Abstract The effects of internal waves (IWs), externally forced by high-frequency wind, on energy pathways are studied in submesoscale-resolving numerical simulations an idealized wind-driven channel flow. Two processes examined: the direct extraction mesoscale IWs followed IW forward cascade to dissipation and stimulated imbalance, a mechanism through which trigger submesoscale dissipation. This study finds that frequency wavenumber spectral slopes shallower solutions with forcing compared without volume-averaged interior kinetic rate increases tenfold. ratio between enhanced added wind work is 1.3, demonstrating significance IW-mediated cascades. Temporal-scale analysis exchanges among low- (mesoscale), intermediate- (submesoscale), (IW) bands shows corresponding increase E k available potential APE transfers from mesoscales submesoscales (stimulated imbalance) (direct extraction). routes identified: transfer conversion. Spatial-scale eddy–IW interaction equivalent inside both anticyclones cyclones.