Low-Frequency Seiche in a Large Bay

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Authors
MacMahan, Jamie
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2015-04
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Abstract
Short-term observations of sea surface elevations h along the 10-m isobath and long-term observations inside and outside of a large bay (Monterey Bay, CA) were obtained to describe the nodal structure of the modes 0–3 seiches within the bay and the low-frequency (,346 cpd) seiche forcing mechanism. The measured nodal pattern validates previous numerical estimates associated with a northern amplitude bias, though variability exists across the modal frequency band, particularly for modes 0 and 1. Low-frequency oceanic h white noise within seiche frequency bands (24–69 cpd) provides a continuous resonant forcing of the bay seiche with a h2 (variance) amplification of 16–40 for the different modes. The temporal variation of the oceanic h white noise is significantly correlated (R250.86) at the 95% confidence interval with the bay seiche h that varies seasonally. The oceanic h white noise is hypothesized as being from low-frequency, free, infragravity waves that are forced by short waves.
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The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-14-0169.1
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Oceanography
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This work originated from the Littoral Field Studies class within the OC department at the NPS. Pressure sensors were obtained from an ONR DURIP (N0001409WR20268). JM was supported by ONR (N0001414WX20353), NSF (OCE-0926750), and NPS.
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Journal of Physical Oceanography, Volume 45, pp. 716-723, March 2015.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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