Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• ERIKSEN, C. C
• BLUMENTHAL, M. B
• HAYES, S. P
• RIPA, P

Titel

Wind-generated equatorial Kelvin waves observed across the Pacific ocean

Ist Teil von

• Journal of physical oceanography, 1983-09, Vol.13 (9), p.1622-1640

Ort / Verlag

Boston, MA: American Meteorological Society

Erscheinungsjahr

1983

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

EZB Electronic Journals Library

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Sea-level fluctuations during 1978-80 at equatorial Pacific islands separated by as much as one-quarter of the earth's circumference are coherent at periods of 1-6 weeks with phases implying eastward propagation. Eastward speeds are 16 plus or minus 7.5% higher than expected for a linear, first-baroclinic-mode Kelvin wave (based upon hydrography). Zonal winds in the western Pacific exhibit variation on meridional scales comparable to those of equatorial-ocean baroclinic motions. roughly one-quarter of sea-level variance in the 1-6 week period range can be explained by local zonal wind alone. The observed admittance magnitude, O(0.1 cm sea level per (ms super(-1)) super(2) zonal wind pseudo-stress), and phase lag (a few days, sea level lagging wind) can be accounted for in a linear model of baroclinic equatorial Kelvin waves generated by a crudely idealized wind patch of 1000 km zonal scale. Zonal winds at the equator excite, among other things, low-mode Kelvin waves which are recognizable O(10,000 km) to the east of the forcing.