Numerical evaluation of energy transfers in internal gravity wave spectra of the ocean

Abstract

Spectral energy transfers by internal gravity wave-wave interactions for given empirical energy spectra are evaluated numerically from the kinetic equation that is derived from the assumption of weak interactions. Wave spectrum parameters, such as bandwidth, spectral slope, and Coriolis frequency f, are varied, as is the spectral resolution. In agreement with previous studies, we find in all cases a forward energy cascade toward smaller vertical and horizontal wavelengths. Energy sinks due to the transfers are predominantly at frequencies between 2f and 3f. While the mechanism of the energy transfer differs partly from findings of previous studies, a parameterization for internal wave dissipation-which is used in the fine structure parameterization to estimate dissipation and mixing rates from observations-agrees well with the numerical evaluation of the energy transfers. We also find a dependency of the energy transfers on the spectral slope, offering the possibility to decrease the bias of the fine structure parameterization by improving the knowledge about the spatial variations of this (and other) spectral parameter.