The generation of baroclinic rossby waves by meridional oscillations of a zonal wind stress

Abstract

This paper investigates the generation of linear baroclinic Rossby waves by meridional oscillations of a climatological zonal wind stress in a reduced gravity ocean bounded by an eastern coastline. Using a power series technique an analytical solution is derived for the interfacial displacement. It is found that for a given period of oscillation of the zonal winds, a finite number of propagating Rossby waves will be generated with frequencies equal to a harmonic of the forcing frequency. The number of propagating modes increases with increasing period of the wind stress. In addition to the propagating waves the complete solution for the interfacial displacement consists of a rapidly convergent infinite sum of evanescent terms. The displacement field is calculated for atmospheric forcing parameters typical of those found at mid-latitudes. Further, it is shown that a near resonant response can be generated using atmospheric parameter values typical of those found over the North Pacific.     

On mass transport in deep water waves

Summary Various formulations of the mass-transport problem are compared for progressive waves in deep water. In order to calculate the mass-transport velocity as a function of depth in the main body of the fluid, it is necessary to include the effect of viscous wave attenuation. It is shown that the usual assumptions of periodicity in distance and attenuation with time or periodicity in time and attenuation with distance, are both physically unsatisfactory. The first does not specify a unique solution, and the second is incompatible with the assumption of zero surface stress. A certain critical constant tangential wind stress will maintain strictly time-periodic deep water waves. The corresponding attenuation with distance is then calculated to order ³. A constant tangential stress greater or less than the critical causes waves, necessarily decaying with distance, to grow or decay with time.     

Scattering and reflection of SH waves around a slope on an elastic wedged space

The scattering and reflection of SH waves by a slope on an elastic wedged space is investigated. A series solution is obtained by using the wave function expansion method. The slope on a wedged space is divided into two subregions by an artificial, auxiliary circular arc. The wave fields with unknown complex coefficients within each sub-region are derived. Applying Graf addition theorem, the scattered waves in the sub-regions are expressed in a global coordinate system. Fourier transform is adopted to derive a consistent form of standing waves in the inner region using the orthogonality of the cosine functions. The boundary-valued problem is solved by stress and displacement continuity along the artificial, auxiliary arc to obtain the unknown complex coefficients. Parametric studies are next performed to investigate how the topography from the slope on the wedged space will affect the scattering and diffraction, and hence the amplification and de-amplification of the SH waves. Numerical results show that the surface motions on the slope of the wedged space is influenced greatly by the topography. Amplification of the surface motions near the slope vertex is significant. The corresponding phases along the wedged space surfaces are consistent with the direction that the SH waves are propagating.     

海上风电结构地基土动应力变化规律研究

以承受水平荷载为主的海上风力发电机在风、浪等荷载的共同作用下其结构—地基系统具有复杂的受荷特性,使得基础周围的地基土表现出复杂的应力变化特性。本文通过数值计算分析了海上风机上部结构所受水平荷载与波浪荷载的作用方向夹角以及荷载频率对地基土应力状态的影响,揭示了海上风机单桩结构地基土的典型应力时程变化及分布规律。结果表明海上风电结构地基土的应力幅值大小和主应力方向角都在发生变化,上部水平荷载与波浪荷载间的夹角以及二者的频率都对地基土的应力状态,特别是主应力方向角的旋转产生了很大影响。     

长应力波对于深部隧道衬砌的作用

应力波与隧道衬砌的相互作用问题为岩石力学的一个十分复杂的问题,到目前为止还没有得到圆满的解决。对于考虑介质与结构弹塑性性质的课题,解析解更难以求得。研究表明长波与深地下硐室的作用问题可以用拟静法解答。本文用拟静法研究了考虑岩体塑性性质时长纵波与地下硐室的相互作用问题。并获得了确定长应力波对于隧道支护作用的解析解。     

3D scattering of obliquely incident plane SV waves by an alluvial valley embedded in a fluid-saturated,poroelastic layered half-space

The indirect boundary element method is used to study the 3D dynamic response of an infinitely long alluvial valley embedded in a saturated layered half-space for obliquely incident SV waves. A wave-number transform is first applied along the valley’s axis to reduce a 3D problem to a 2D plane strain problem. The problem is then solved in the section perpendicular to the axis of the valley. Finally, the 3D dynamic responses of the valley are obtained by an inverse wave-number transform. The validity of the method is confirmed by comparison with relevant results. The differences between the responses around the valley embedded in dry and in saturated poroelastic medium are studied, and the effects of drainage conditions, porosity, soil layer stiffness, and soil layer thickness on the dynamic response are discussed in detail resulting in some conclusions.     

The dynamic response of a fluid‐filled borehole under a normal point load on the free surface

The dynamic response of a semi‐infinite fluid‐filled borehole embedded in an elastic half‐space under a concentrated normal surface load is analysed in the long‐wavelength limit. The solution of the problem is obtained with integral transforms in the form of a double integral with respect to the slowness and frequency. The partial P‐ and SV‐wave responses are further transformed to path integrals along Cagniard paths in the complex slowness plane. Unlike the traditional Cagniard‐de Hoop technique based on the Laplace transform of time dependence, this paper is based on the Fourier transform. The tube‐wave response is presented as a causal integral over a slowness range. The resultant representation in the time‐domain is suitable for the numerical evaluation of the complete response in the fluid‐filled borehole, especially at large distances. Asymptotic analysis of seismic phases arising in the borehole is performed on the basis of the obtained solution. The complete asymptotic wavefield consists in P‐ and SV‐waves, the Rayleigh wave and the low‐frequency Stoneley (tube) wave. Pressure synthetics obtained by the use of the asymptotic formulas are shown to be in good agreement with straightforward calculations.     

Can a minimalist model of wind forced baroclinic Rossby waves produce reasonable results?

The linear theory predicts that Rossby waves are the large scale mechanism of adjustment to perturbations of the geophysical fluid. Satellite measurements of sea level anomaly (SLA) provided sturdy evidence of the existence of these waves. Recent studies suggest that the variability in the altimeter records is mostly due to mesoscale nonlinear eddies and challenges the original interpretation of westward propagating features as Rossby waves. The objective of this work is to test whether a classic linear dynamic model is a reasonable explanation for the observed SLA. A linear-reduced gravity non-dispersive Rossby wave model is used to estimate the SLA forced by direct and remote wind stress. Correlations between model results and observations are up to 0.88. The best agreement is in the tropical region of all ocean basins. These correlations decrease towards insignificance in mid-latitudes. The relative contributions of eastern boundary (remote) forcing and local wind forcing in the generation of Rossby waves are also estimated and suggest that the main wave forming mechanism is the remote forcing. Results suggest that linear long baroclinic Rossby wave dynamics explain a significant part of the SLA annual variability at least in the tropical oceans.     

Surface-driven flows in long rectangular enclosures

This paper is devoted to numerical and theoretical studies of the motions of viscous fluids driven by a constant stress acting in long rectangular enclosures. This problem was originally addressed to study the flow behaviour of molten metals driven by thermocapillarity in open boats during the directional solidification by the Bridgman technique and the study has now been extended to a closely related problem, i.e., the flows occuring in a water-basin under a stress generated by an external wind. We handled this problem by solving the 2D Navier-Stokes equations by an efficient finite-difference technique. Computations have been done for a rectangular basin with various aspect ratios (length/height), and for a large range of the surface Reynolds number. A notable feature of the solutions is the totally different end circulations. Following a previous study of Bye¹, we also emphasized this problem through the linear eigenequation resulting from (small) spatial disturbances of a Couette flow solution. We performed this analysis by using an efficient Tau-Chebyshev technique.     

On the sensitivity of the sedimentary system in the East Frisian Wadden Sea to sea-level rise and wave-induced bed shear stress

The paper addresses the individual and collective contribution of different forcing factors (tides, wind waves, and sea-level rise) to the dynamics of sediment in coastal areas. The results are obtained from simulations with the General Estuarine Transport Model coupled with a sediment transport model. The wave-induced bed shear stress is formulated using a simple model based on the concept that the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) associated with wind waves is a function of orbital velocity, the latter depending on the wave height and water depth. A theory is presented explaining the controls of sediment dynamics by the TKE produced by tides and wind waves. Several scenarios were developed aiming at revealing possible trends resulting from realistic (observed or expected) changes in sea level and wave magnitude. The simulations demonstrate that these changes not only influence the concentration of sediment, which is very sensitive to the magnitude of the external forcing, but also the temporal variability patterns. The joint effect of tides and wave-induced bed shear stress revealed by the comparison between theoretical results and simulations is well pronounced. The intercomparison between different scenarios demonstrates that the spatial patterns of erosion and deposition are very sensitive to the magnitude of wind waves and sea-level rise. Under a changing climate, forcing the horizontal distribution of sediments adjusts mainly through a change in the balance of export and import of sediment from the intertidal basins. The strongest signal associated with this adjustment is simulated North of the barrier islands where the evolution of sedimentation gives an integrated picture of the processes in tidal basins.     

Modeling of turbidity dynamics caused by wind-induced waves and current in the Taihu Lake

A simple turbidity model was developed with a sound physical basis based on in situ high-frequency observations of short-term, strong wind-induced sediment suspension in Taihu Lake, China. The validation results show that the model could successfully simulate turbidity caused by strong wind events, despite the relatively poor simulation accuracy for high values of turbidity caused by the entrainment of cyanobacteria by turbulence. The in situ observations and model simulation results indicate that the wind waves were within a narrow spectral band, with spectral energy mainly distributed within the 0.28–0.75 Hz band on opposite sides of the peak frequency. These high-frequency and low-energy wind waves are sensitive to depth filtering. However, the average depth of the lake is only 1.9 m, and wind waves still represent the main force of sediment suspension at the sediment-water interface. Moreover, lake currents were of significance to the maintenance of background turbidity in calm waves or ripples and in the determination of critical shear stress. By considering the spatial distribution of hydrodynamics and sediment, the model can be used to simulate the turbidity of the entire lake as well as boundary conditions for three-dimensional numerical models.     

Near-surface flow structure over wind-generated water waves,part I: wave-induced flow characteristics

We report on an experimental study conducted to investigate the influence of small-scale wind waves on the airflow structure in the immediate vicinity of the air–water interface. PIV technique was used to measure the two-dimensional velocity fields at wind speeds of 3.7 and 4.4 m?s^?1 and at a fetch of 2.1 m. The flow structure was analyzed as a function of wave phase. In the near-surface region, significant variations were observed in the flow structure over the waveform. The phase-averaged profiles of velocity, vorticity, and Reynolds stress showed different behavior on the windward and leeward sides of the wave in the near-surface region. The influence of wave-induced velocity was restricted within a distance of three significant wave heights from the surface, which also showed opposite trends on the windward and leeward sides of the crest. The results also show that the turbulent Reynolds stress mainly supports downward momentum transfer whereas the wave-induced Reynolds stress is responsible for the upward momentum transfer from wave to wind. In the immediate vicinity of the air–water interface, the momentum is transferred from waves to wind along the windward side, whereas, the momentum transfer is from wind to waves along the leeward side.     

Variations in the characteristics of acoustic gravity waves according to simulation data

The characteristics of different-scale acoustic gravity waves (wavelengths of 100–1200 km, periods of 10–50 min) under different geophysical conditions have been studied using a numerical model for calculating the vertical structure of these waves in a nonisothermal atmosphere in the presence of an altitudedependent background wind and in a situation when molecular dissipation is taken into account. It has been established that all considered acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) effectively reach altitudes of the thermosphere. The character of the amplitude vertical profile depends on the AGW scales. The seasonal and latitudinal differences in the AGW vertical structure depend on the background wind and temperature. A strong thermospheric wind causes the rapid damping of medium-scale AGWs propagating along the wind. Waves with long periods to a lesser degree depend on dissipation in the thermosphere and can penetrate to high altitudes. A change in the geomagnetic activity level affects the background wind vertical distribution at high latitudes, as a result of which the AGW vertical structure varies.     

Note on the propagation of waves in infinite spherically-aeolotropic medium produced by a blast in a spherical cavity

Summary By using the Laplace transform method, solution has been obtained for the elastodynamic problem due to blast pulse on the inner surface of a spherical cavity in an infinite spherically aeolotropic elastic solid. Both types of blast producing radial and rotational waves have been considered.     

Near-surface flow structure over wind-generated water waves,part II: characteristics of separated and non-separated flows

We report on an experimental study conducted to investigate the influence of small-scale wind waves on the airflow structure in the immediate vicinity of the air–water interface. PIV technique was used to measure the two-dimensional velocity fields at wind speeds of 3.7 and 4.4 m s⁻¹ and at a fetch of 2.1 m. The flow structure was analyzed as a function of wave phase. In the near-surface region, significant variations were observed in the flow structure over the waveform. The phase-averaged profiles of velocity, vorticity, and Reynolds stress showed different behavior on the windward and leeward sides of the wave in the near-surface region. The influence of wave-induced velocity was restricted within a distance of three significant wave heights from the surface, which also showed opposite trends on the windward and leeward sides of the crest. The results also show that the turbulent Reynolds stress mainly supports downward momentum transfer whereas the wave-induced Reynolds stress is responsible for the upward momentum transfer from wave to wind. In the immediate vicinity of the air–water interface, the momentum is transferred from waves to wind along the windward side, whereas, the momentum transfer is from wind to waves along the leeward side.     

Experimental study of wind solitons

A soliton mechanism of formation of rogue waves in the sea is considered. With this in view, a series of experiments was carried out in a ring aerohydrocanal. It was shown that, in the case of long waves (shallow water), a soliton may form under the effect of wind. With increasing wind velocity and decreasing liquid depth, the height of the soliton increases and its forward profile becomes steeper. The result is the formation of a bore. In a sea, such process of wind wave development can lead to the formation of rogue or freak waves. Measurements in the Setun R. have shown that the height of the rings induced by throwing a body into water always decreased in the field of counter flow.     

Scattering of plane sh waves by a semi-elliptical canyon

In this paper we analyse the two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SH waves by a semi-elliptical canyon. The exact series solution of the problem, for general angle of incidence of the plane SH waves, has been used to examine the dependence of surface amplifications inside and near the canyon. The nature of ground motion has been found to depend on two key parameters: (a) The angle of incidence. (b) The ratio of the canyon width to the wave length of incident SH waves. For short incident waves surface displacement amplitudes change rapidly from one point to another, while for the long waves and shallow canyons displacement amplitudes display only minor departure from the uniform half-space amplification of 2. For shallow canyons and long incident waves, the angle of incidence introduces only minor changes into the overall behaviour of surface amplitudes. For deep canyons and nearly grazing incidences, a prominent shadow zone is realized behind the canyon.     

3-D seismic response analysis of long lined tunnels in half-space

The dynamic response of infinitely long lined tunnels with a uniform cross-section buried into an elastic or viscoelastic half-space to body and surface harmonic seismic waves is numerically determined by a special direct boundary element method in the frequency domain. The waves have an arbitrary direction of propagation with respect to the axis of the tunnel and this renders the problem three-dimensional. However, this problem is effectively reduced to a two-dimensional one by a coordinate transformation and appropriate integration of the full-space dynamic fundamental solution along the direction of the tunnel axis. Quadratic isoparametric boundary line elements and advanced numerical integration techniques for the treatment of singular integrals produce results of high accuracy. Numerical results are presented for the case of an infinitely long lined tunnel of circular cross-section and compared against those of a full three-dimensional boundary element analysis, as well as those of other methods. Thus the proposed method is illustrated and its merits demonstrated.     

Generation of baroclinic topographic waves by a tropical cyclone impacting a low-latitude continental shelf

Numerical model experiments have been performed to analyze the low-latitude baroclinic continental shelf response to a tropical cyclone. The theory of coastally trapped waves suggests that, provided appropriate slope, latitude, stratification and wind stress, bottom-intensified topographic Rossby waves can be generated by the storm. Based on a scale analysis, the Nicaragua Shelf is chosen to study propagating topographic waves excited by a storm, and a model domain is configured with simplified but similar geometry. The model is forced with wind stress representative of a hurricane translating slowly over the region at 6 km h⁻¹. Scale analysis leads to the assumption that baroclinic Kelvin wave modes have minimal effect on the low-frequency wave motions along the slope, and coastal-trapped waves are restricted to topographic Rossby waves. Analysis of the simulated motions suggests that the shallow part of the continental slope is under the influence of barotropic topographic wave motions and at the deeper part of the slope baroclinic topographic Rossby waves dominate the low-frequency motions. Numerical solutions are in a good agreement with theoretical scale analysis. Characteristics of the simulated baroclinic waves are calculated based on linear theory of bottom-intensified topographic Rossby waves. Simulated waves have periods ranging from 153 to 203 h. The length scale of the waves is from 59 to 87 km. Analysis of energy fluxes for a fixed volume on the slope reveals predominantly along-isobath energy propagation in the direction of the group velocity of a topographic Rossby wave. Another model experiment forced with a faster translating hurricane demonstrates that fast moving tropical cyclones do not excite energetic baroclinic topographic Rossby waves. Instead, robust inertial oscillations are identified over the slope.     

Numerical experiments on the generation of long ocean waves in coastal waters of the Buenos Aires province,Argentina

A numerical model (two horizontal dimensions, vertically integrated) is used to investigate the generation of long ocean waves, ranging from 20 min to almost 2 h, at Buenos Aires continental shelf. The domain includes the Río de la Plata estuary and the continental shelf together and extends from 33.5° to 40.5°S latitude, and from 51° to 63°W longitude. Sea-level oscillations are modeled by forcing with passage of atmospheric cold fronts and atmospheric gravity waves. Both forcing mechanisms, which have been present during high activity lapses of long ocean waves, are mathematically implemented. After several numerical simulations, it is concluded that the pressure and wind fields associated to cold fronts do not generate long ocean waves in the area, though they do produce disturbances with periods longer than the tidal ones. On the other hand, it is so concluded that atmospheric gravity waves are an effective mechanism to force long ocean waves. Results obtained show that generation of long ocean waves is highly sensitive depending on the propagation direction and the phase speed of the atmospheric gravity waves. The long ocean wave event detected during the large-amplitude gravity-wave event of 13 October 1985 is successfully simulated. Finally, all our results suggest that atmospheric gravity waves are a highly effective mechanism forcing for the generation of long ocean waves in Buenos Aires coastal waters.