Bremen 2017 – scientific programme

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UP: Fachverband Umweltphysik

UP 5: Postersession

UP 5.23: Poster

Tuesday, March 14, 2017, 16:40–18:10, GW2 B3010

Observations and Models of Low Mode Internal Waves in the Ocean — •Maren Walter¹, Christian Mertens¹, Janna Köhler¹, Jonas Löb¹, Jin-Song von Storch², and Monika Rhein¹ — ¹MARUM/IUP, Otto-Hahn Allee, 28359 Bremen — ²MPI für Meteorologie, Bundesstrasse 53, 20146 Hamburg

Internal gravity waves in the ocean are generated by tides, wind, and interaction of currents with the seafloor. Models predict a global energy supply for the internal waves of 0.7-1.3 TW by the conversion of barotropic tides at mid-ocean ridges and abrupt topographic features. Winds acting on the oceanic mixed layer contribute 0.3-1.5 TW and mesoscale flow over topography adds 0.2 TW. Globally, 1-2 TW are needed to maintain the stratification of the deep ocean by diapycnal mixing that results from breaking internal waves. Ocean circulation models show significant impact of the spatial distribution of internal wave dissipation and mixing on the ocean state, e.g. stratification and meridional overturning. Observations indicate that the local ratio of generation and dissipation of internal waves is often below unity and thus the energy available for mixing must be redistributed by internal tides and near-inertial waves at low vertical wavenumber that can propagate thousands of kilometers from their source. Eddy-permitting global ocean circulation models are able to quantify the sources of energy input and to simulate the propagation of the lowest wave modes. However, the variation of the internal wave energy flux along its paths and its ultimate fate by dissipation remains to by parameterized.