Eddy–Internal Wave Interactions and Their Contribution to Cross-Scale Energy Fluxes: A Case Study in the California Current

• DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-23-0181.1
• Publication Date: 2024-01-15T16:56:21Z
• Authors: Audrey Delpech; Roy Barkan; Kaushik Srinivasan; James C. McWilliams; Brian K. Arbic; Oladeji Q. Siyanbola; Maarten C. Buijsman
• Keywords: Inertial wave

Abstract Oceanic mixing, mostly driven by the breaking of internal waves at small scales in ocean interior, is major importance for circulation and response to future climate scenarios. Understanding how transfer their energy smaller from generation dissipation therefore an important step improving representation mixing models. In this study, processes leading cross-scale fluxes wave field are quantified using original decomposition approach a realistic numerical simulation California Current. We quantify relative contribution eddy–internal interactions wave–wave these show that more efficient than formation continuum spectrum. Carrying out twin simulations, where we successively activate or deactivate one main forcing, also eddy–near-inertial eddy–tidal interactions. This results being dominated near-inertial over tidal waves. A companion study focuses on role stimulated cascade enstrophy fluxes.