Water level oscillations in Monterey Bay and Harbor
Seiches are normal modes of water bodies responding to geophysical forcings with potential to significantly impact ecology and maritime operations. Analysis of high-frequency (1 Hz) water level data in Monterey, California, identifies harbor modes between 10 and 120 s that...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-06-01
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| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | http://www.ocean-sci.net/11/439/2015/os-11-439-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | Seiches are normal modes of water bodies responding to geophysical
forcings with potential to significantly impact ecology and maritime
operations. Analysis of high-frequency (1 Hz) water level
data in Monterey, California, identifies harbor modes between 10 and
120 s that are attributed to specific geographic features.
It is found that modal amplitude modulation arises from cross-modal
interaction and that offshore wave energy is a primary driver of these
modes. Synchronous coupling between modes is observed to
significantly impact dynamic water levels. At lower frequencies with
periods between 15 and 60 min, modes are independent of
offshore wave energy, yet are continuously present. This is
unexpected since
seiches normally dissipate after cessation of the driving force,
indicating an unknown forcing. Spectral and kinematic estimates of
these low-frequency oscillations support the idea that a persistent
anticyclonic mesoscale gyre adjacent to the bay is a potential mode
driver, while discounting other sources. |
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| ISSN: | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |