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Internal waves are ubiquitous throughout the world ocean and are generated by a combina- tion of processes including the tides and winds. The vertical directionality of low-frequency internal waves can be diagnosed by separating shear components into their rotary-with- depth components. Partitioning of energy in upward and downward propagation is helpful for understanding how energy is distributed and potentially lost in the global ocean energy budget. Using observations of horizontal velocity from the GO-SHIP surveys and interpreting North Hemisphere clockwise-with-depth (South Hemisphere counterclockwise- with-depth) signals as downward propagating, there is approximately 10% more downward than upward propagating shear variance at 120-320 m vertical wavelengths in the upper 2000 m. There is more upward and downward shear variance in the bottom 2000 m associated with rough topography.

Item Type:	Non Refereed Conference Paper
Keywords:	internal waves, observations, energy dissipation, tides, wind
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Oceanography
Research Field:	Physical oceanography
Objective Division:	Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
Objective Group:	Understanding climate change
Objective Field:	Climate change models
UTAS Author:	Nikurashin, M (Dr Maxim Nikurashin)
ID Code:	155493
Year Published:	2016
Funding Support:	Australian Research Council (DE150100937)
Deposited By:	Oceans and Cryosphere
Deposited On:	2023-02-23
Last Modified:	2023-02-23
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