Low-Frequency Baroclinic Waves off Coastal Boundaries

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Abstract
The behavior of low-frequency baroclinic Rossby wave motion in the vicinity of coastal boundaries is investigated using linearized modulated wave theory in a stratified, constant-depth, equatorial β-plane ocean. A primary objective is to obtain an equation that describes large-scale, low-frequency pressure fluctuations along variable geometry ocean boundaries at all latitudes for use in the analysis of coastal sea level observations. Both eastern and western boundaries are considered, and the effect of direct wind stress forcing at the coast is included; but our major interest concerns the response along eastern ocean boundaries to incident baroclinic equatorial Kelvin waves. In that case, for an incident wave at a fixed frequency Ω, a critical latitude, with Coriolis parameter |f| = fc, exists such that for |f| < fc, the response consists of offshore-propagating Rossby waves, whereas for |f| > fc the waves are coastally trapped. The magnitude of fc, depends on ω and on the angle of the coastline... Abstract The behavior of low-frequency baroclinic Rossby wave motion in the vicinity of coastal boundaries is investigated using linearized modulated wave theory in a stratified, constant-depth, equatorial β-plane ocean. A primary objective is to obtain an equation that describes large-scale, low-frequency pressure fluctuations along variable geometry ocean boundaries at all latitudes for use in the analysis of coastal sea level observations. Both eastern and western boundaries are considered, and the effect of direct wind stress forcing at the coast is included; but our major interest concerns the response along eastern ocean boundaries to incident baroclinic equatorial Kelvin waves. In that case, for an incident wave at a fixed frequency Ω, a critical latitude, with Coriolis parameter |f| = fc, exists such that for |f| < fc, the response consists of offshore-propagating Rossby waves, whereas for |f| > fc the waves are coastally trapped. The magnitude of fc, depends on ω and on the angle of the coastline...

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