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Vertical heat flux and lateral mass transport in nonlinear internal waves

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title Vertical heat flux and lateral mass transport in nonlinear internal waves
Names Shroyer, E. L. (creator)
Moum, J. N. (creator)
Nash, J. D. (creator)
Date Issued 2010-04-24 (iso8601)
Abstract Comprehensive observations of velocity, density, and
turbulent dissipation permit quantification of the nonlinear
internal wave (NLIW) contribution to vertical heat flux and
lateral mass transport over New Jersey’s shelf. The effect of
NLIWs on the shelf heat budget was significant. On
average, heat flux in NLIWs was 10 times larger than
background at the pycnocline depth. NLIWs were present
at midshelf <10% of the time, yet we estimate that they
contributed roughly one−half the heat flux across the
pycnocline during the observation period, which was
characterized by weak to moderate winds. Lateral transport
distances due to the leading 3 waves in NLIW packets were
typically (100 m) but ranged several kilometers. The
month‐averaged daily onshore transport (per unit
alongshelf dimension) by NLIWs is estimated as 0.3 m2s⁻¹.
This is comparable to a weak downwelling wind, but
sustained over an entire month.
Genre Article
Topic Nonlinear internal waves
Identifier Shroyer, E. L., J. N. Moum, and J. D. Nash (2010), Vertical heat flux and lateral mass transport in nonlinear internal waves, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L08601, doi:10.1029/2010GL042715.

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