Near-inertial ocean current response to hurricane Frederic.

Abstract

Excitation of near inertial waves caused by the passage of Hurricane Frederic was observed throughout the water column and along the walls of DeSoto Canyon. The wave frequencies were blue shifted 1-6% above the local inertial frequency. Details of the horizontal and vertical wavelengths of the immediate response to the hurricane are given and discussed. The vertical modes of the ocean current field were determined using a constant Brunt-Vaisala frequency. The effects due to topography in the DeSoto Canyon area are illustrated. The horizontal velcocity eigenfunctions were fitted to the velocity amplitudes derived from the ocean current time series in order to estimate the time-dependent modal amplitudes.