Internal wave dispersions in density-stratified deep oceans with a thermocline

As to two typical Väisälä frequency profiles in deep oceans, one in the Arctic Ocean and one in the Atlantic, the approximate analytical method ofHyun (1976) is used to calculate internal wave dispersion relations. The method is shown to have good agreement with the matrix numerical method. By making calculations for an exemplary Väisälä frequency profile with a thermocline, an assessment is made of the inaccuracies in the dispersion curves obtained by the ordinary WKB method which does not take into account the turning point singularities.