Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A case of persistent breaking of internal gravity waves in the atmospheric surface layer over the ocean

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Formation and breaking of internal gravity waves contributing to a very significant increase in turbulence in the atmospheric surface layer over the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island, New York are reported. Contrary to the bursts that are characteristically of short duration, this increase in turbulence lasted for more than one hour and was typical of what one would observe during unstable atmospheric conditions. However, mean temperature profiles indicated strong stable conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Busch, N.: 1969, ‘Waves and Turbulence’, Radio Science 4, 1377–1379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caughey, S. J. and Readings, C. J.: 1975, ‘An Observation of Waves and Turbulence in the Earth's Boundary Layer’, Boundary-Layer Meterol. 9, 279–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chimonas, G.: 1972, ‘The Stability of a Coupled Wave-Turbulence System in a Parallel Shear Flow’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 2, 444–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gossard, E. E. and Hooke, W. H.: 1975, Waves in the Atmosphere, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, New York, 456 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooke, W. H., Hall, F. F., and Gossard, E. E.: 1973, ‘The Observed Generation of an Atmospheric Gravity Wave by Shear Instability in the Mean Flow of the Planetary Boundary Layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 5, 29–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludlam, F. H.: 1967, ‘Characteristics of Billow Clouds and Their Relation to Clear-Air Turbulence’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 93, 419–435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynor, G. S., Michael, P., Brown, R. M., and SethuRaman, S.: 1975, ‘Studies of Atmospheric Diffusion from a Near Shore Oceanic Site’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 14, 1080–1094.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynor, G. S., Brown, R. M., and SethuRaman, S.: 1978, ‘A Comparison of Diffusion from a Small Island and an Undisturbed Ocean Site’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 17, 129–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynor, G. S., SethuRaman, S., and Brown, R. M.: 1979, ‘Formation and Characteristics of Coastal Internal Boundary Layers During Onshore Flows’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 16, 487–514.

    Google Scholar 

  • SethuRaman, S.: 1976, ‘Air Mass Modification Due to Change in Surface Characteristics’, Mon. Weather Rev. 104, 1040–1043.

    Google Scholar 

  • SethuRaman, S.: 1977, ‘The Observed Generation and Breaking of Atmospheric Internal Gravity Waves Over the Ocean’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 12, 331–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • SethuRaman, S., Meyers, R. E., and Brown, R. M.: 1978, ‘A Comparison of a Eulerian and a Lagrangian Time Scale for Over-Water Atmospheric Flows During Stable Conditions’, Boundary-Layer Meterol. 14, 557–565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe, S. A.: 1975, ‘The Excitation, Dissipation, and Interaction of Internal Waves in the Deep Ocean’, J. Geophys. Res. 80, 328–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, J. D.: 1969, ‘Wave-Induced Shear Instability in the Summer Thermocline’, J. Fluid Mech. 32, 791–800.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmospheric Sciences Division, Department of Energy and Environment, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 11973, Upton, N.Y., USA

    S. Sethuraman

Authors
  1. S. Sethuraman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was performed under the auspices of the United States Department of Energy Under Contract No. EY-76-C-02-0016.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sethuraman, S. A case of persistent breaking of internal gravity waves in the atmospheric surface layer over the ocean. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 19, 67–80 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120311

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120311

Keywords

Search

Navigation