Study on dynamics of shear waves——Ⅰ. Scale analysis and dispersion relation

Starting from satellite remote sensing data, the dynamical processes of shear waves occurring at the boundary between the western boundary current and the shelf slope water are studied and dynamically analyzed in this study. The average wavelength is 75 km, and the average amplitude (from crest to trough)17 km. the average phase speed 100 cms^-1 for the shear waves along the north wall of the Gulf Stream to the east of Cape Hatteras measured from NOAA satellite IR (infrared) images. The average wavelength of shear waves along the north wall of the Kuroshio Current is 57 km, and the average amplitude 17 km. For the shear waves occurring along the west wall of the Gulf Stream to the south of Cape Hatteras, the average wavelength is 131 km, and the average amplitude 33 km measured from Seasat SAR (synthetic aperture radar)images. The time for one cycle of shear wave event is about one week.
In order to explore the dynamical mechanisms of shear waves, we solved the vorticity equation for a stratified fluid, and obtained an analytical expression of dispersion relation of shear waves. The results indicated that there was a parabolic relation between the phase speed and the wavelength of shear waves, and the mean flow field was an important factor in the dispersion relation. The latter point means that the horizontal tangent variation of velocity is a basic condition for shear wave occurrence. Theoretical analyses are confirmed by satellite remote sensing data.