Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T14:06:36.922Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On the generation of double Kelvin waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

L. A. Mysak
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Institute of Oceanography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, Canada

Abstract

This paper considers the linear response of a homogeneous uniformly rotating ocean of infinite horizontal extent with a discontinuity in depth to a variable horizontal wind stress. It is shown that, for either a transient or time-periodic wind stress which is suddenly applied to an initially calm sea surface, the asymptotic response far from the forcing region is dominated by an outgoing dispersive wave which is trapped along the depth discontinuity, i.e. a double Kelvin wave. Plots of the forced wave patterns in the neighbourhood of the depth discontinuity itself are also presented.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1969 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Buchwald, V. T. 1969 Long waves on oceanic ridges. Proc. Roy. Soc. A 308, 34354.Google Scholar
Buchwald, V. T. & Adams, J. K. 1968 The propagation of continental shelf waves. Proc. Roy. Soc. A 305, 23550.Google Scholar
Carrier, G. F., Krook, M. & Pearson, C. E. 1966 Functions of a Complex Variable New York: McGraw-Hill.
Longuet-Higgins, M. S. 1967 On the trappings of wave energy round islands. J. Fluid Mech. 29, 781821.Google Scholar
Longuet-Higgins, M. S. 1968a On the trapping of waves along a discontinuity of depth in a rotating ocean. J. Fluid Mech. 31, 41734.Google Scholar
Longuet-Higgins, M. S. 1968b Double Kelvin waves with continuous depth profiles. J. Fluid Mech. 34, 4980.Google Scholar
Rhines, P. B. 1967 Slow oscillations in an ocean of varying depth. Ph.D. dissertation, Cambridge University.