Talk Abstract:
Near-Inertial Internal Waves (NIWs) play a key role in the ocean circulation energy balance but their dynamics is challenging. Because NIW dynamics requires synoptic sampling at very high vertical resolution this is only a partially resolved topic in oceanography. Here, I present results from a multi-platform, multi-scale and multi-disciplinary campaign led by the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation in the Ligurian Sea (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea) from September to November 2017. The analysis of the observational dataset highlights a strong NIWs signal during the whole sampling period. In support to the observations a numerical model is implemented for an in-depth investigation of the wave generation, propagation and interaction with mesoscale processes. Results adequately agree with observations, and will potentially improve numerical ocean models and their products.
All seminars this quarter will be in a hybrid format. Recordings available upon request.