Stalling and Dissipation of a Near-Inertial Wave (NIW) in an
Anticyclonic Eddy: Direct Determination of Group Velocity and Comparison
with Theory
Abstract
Nearly-Lagrangian observations from two EM-APEX velocity and density
profiling floats on concentric trajectories determine profiles of ocean
eddy vorticity and velocity, and the intrinsic frequency, energy,
vertical wavenumber, vertical phase velocity, and vertical group
velocity of a near-inertial-wave (NIW). For the first time, NIW 𝐶 and 𝐶
are computed from firs principles (by direct computation of 𝜔⁄𝑚 and
𝜕𝜔⁄𝜕𝑚 vs. depth without a dispersion relation). This novel experiment,
moving with turbulent zone produced by a downgoing NIW packet observed
stalling at 135-m depth. KE flux convergence initiates KE dissipation at
115 m. Below 135 m, shear production is hypothesized to support
dissipation. These observations compare well with a theory of NIW
interaction with the eddy, not in solid-body rotation. Theory and
observations show that the observed turbulent zone arises from wave
stalling and instability in a critical or caustic layer as the vertical
group velocity of the wave goes toward zero.