The coupling of wind and internal waves: modulation and friction mechanisms

Abstract

The interaction between internal waves (IW) and wind waves (WW) is studied. Three types of interaction are considered: spontaneous IW generation by a random field of WWs, and two feedback mechanisms - modulation and friction.The latter mechanism has not been studied before. Its influence on the IW-WW coupling is of primary importance. The modulation and friction mechanisms result in exponential attenuation of the IWs. Attenuation of IWs propagating against wind is the strongest. The IW attenuation has a dimensionless decrement of order 10^-3, whereas for storm winds it attains the value of 10^-2. Joint action of the spontaneous generation of IWs and their attenuation due to feedback mechanisms permits a stationary ‘wind-IW’ spectrum to exist. For strong winds the ‘wind-IW’ energy is of order 10⁵erg cm^-2. The effect of IWs on currents in the ocean's upper layer is considered. Momentum and energy lost by IWs due to their interaction with WWs generates inertial oscillations. Under the attenuation of intensive IWs, the amplitude of inertial oscillations may be compared with the background Ekman current.