Global Internal Waves
Motivation
Internal waves are vertical disturbances in the ocean’s density layers with amplitudes of 10-100 meters and wavelengths of 10-100 kilometers. They are generated when the tides move over underwater ridges or by the winds. The generation, propagation, and dissipation of internal waves is relevant for:
- predicting coastal processes,
- detiding of satellite altimetry measurements of sea-surface height,
- ocean acoustics, and
- water-mass mixing, which crucially impacts ocean circulation and ultimately the Earth’s climate
A new step forward in the predictability of global internal wave propagation
Our Approach
We will use arrays of field instrumentation (fixed and drifting assets), remote sensing and high-resolution modeling to understand how internal waves propagate in the global ocean
Goals
Our goals are to understand the generation, propagation, and dissipation mechanisms for oceanic internal gravity waves to enable seamless, skillful modeling & forecasts of these internal waves between the deep ocean and the shore.
Predictability of internal tides
Internal tides approaching the continental slope are unpredictable. Our goal is to improve that predictability using a combination of high-resolution observations, remote sensing and high resolution models. Advanced understanding of key processes in modifying and changing the nature of these propagating internal waves is a key focus of this work.
Specifically:
- Observations are designed & conducted to cover vast ranges and oceanic regimes,
- Field campaigns are organized to take advantage of coincident global observational programs (NASA SWOT mission, GO-SHIP)
- High-resolution models are run to track all components (stationary and non-stationary) of internal tides
- Simulations of extreme storm events will generate and track internal wave energy
Recent News
AGU highlighted NOPP-GIW GRL paper
We are excited to share the Research Spotlight highlighting our GRL paper, “Phase-Accurate Internal Tides in a Global Ocean Forecast…
awaterhouse
New paper alert! Yadidya et al 2024
New paper led by Yadidya, the U-Michigan based NOPP-GIW IWR Modelling team postdoc! Tidal flow over topographic features on the…
awaterhouse
January 2024 Annual Meeting Success!
We had a great annual NOPP meeting at the Marine Research Center of USM in Gulfport (1/24-1/25) to discuss the…