Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline

TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) sea level deviation (SLD) time series from 3 October 1992 to 15 May 1997 combined with upper ocean thermal structures are used to observe the characteristics and analyze the dynamics of equatorial waves in the Pacific Ocean. The evolution of the Kelvin wave propagating along an...

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Main Authors: Q. Zheng, R. D. Susanto, X.-H. Yan, W. T. Liu, C.-R. Ho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 1998-01-01
Series:Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
Online Access:http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/5/153/1998/npg-5-153-1998.pdf
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author Q. Zheng
R. D. Susanto
R. D. Susanto
X.-H. Yan
W. T. Liu
C.-R. Ho
author_facet Q. Zheng
R. D. Susanto
R. D. Susanto
X.-H. Yan
W. T. Liu
C.-R. Ho
author_sort Q. Zheng
collection DOAJ
description TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) sea level deviation (SLD) time series from 3 October 1992 to 15 May 1997 combined with upper ocean thermal structures are used to observe the characteristics and analyze the dynamics of equatorial waves in the Pacific Ocean. The evolution of the Kelvin wave propagating along an eastward shoaling thermocline in the equatorial Pacific is investigated. The behaviour of this wave as it propagates eastward can be approximately described with the solutions of the perturbed Korteweg-de Vries (PKDV) equation and modified Green's Law. Assuming that the nonlinear term and dispersive term of this equation are balanced, the amplitude increases as the thermocline decreases to the power -3/8. Approaching the eastern Pacific, the nonlinearity increases and the relation changes to the power -9/8. The dispersion relation, and mass and energy conservations are investigated. The results indicate that under a varying thermocline, the nonlinear Kelvin solitary waves indeed exist in the real ocean.
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spelling doaj.art-4b52ce4a805948c495988011e4bfdb6c2022-12-22T02:03:13ZengCopernicus PublicationsNonlinear Processes in Geophysics1023-58091607-79461998-01-0153153165Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermoclineQ. ZhengR. D. SusantoR. D. SusantoX.-H. YanW. T. LiuC.-R. HoTOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) sea level deviation (SLD) time series from 3 October 1992 to 15 May 1997 combined with upper ocean thermal structures are used to observe the characteristics and analyze the dynamics of equatorial waves in the Pacific Ocean. The evolution of the Kelvin wave propagating along an eastward shoaling thermocline in the equatorial Pacific is investigated. The behaviour of this wave as it propagates eastward can be approximately described with the solutions of the perturbed Korteweg-de Vries (PKDV) equation and modified Green's Law. Assuming that the nonlinear term and dispersive term of this equation are balanced, the amplitude increases as the thermocline decreases to the power -3/8. Approaching the eastern Pacific, the nonlinearity increases and the relation changes to the power -9/8. The dispersion relation, and mass and energy conservations are investigated. The results indicate that under a varying thermocline, the nonlinear Kelvin solitary waves indeed exist in the real ocean.http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/5/153/1998/npg-5-153-1998.pdf
spellingShingle Q. Zheng
R. D. Susanto
R. D. Susanto
X.-H. Yan
W. T. Liu
C.-R. Ho
Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline
Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
title Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline
title_full Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline
title_fullStr Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline
title_full_unstemmed Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline
title_short Observation of equatorial Kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline
title_sort observation of equatorial kelvin solitary waves in a slowly varying thermocline
url http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/5/153/1998/npg-5-153-1998.pdf
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