Upcoming Seminar: insights into Near-Inertial Waves by Professor William R. Young

Professor William R. Young from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, CA (US), will be presenting an insightful seminar on his extensive studies of Near-Inertial Waves (NIWs). The seminar will take place on Monday, July 29, from 11:00 to 12:00 am CEST.

  • Date: 29 JULY 2024  from 11:00 to 12:00

  • Event location: University of Bologna in the Geophysics Library, Viale Berti Pichat 8 - In presence and online event

You can attend this seminar both online via Teams and in person at the University of Bologna in the Geophysics Library, Viale Berti Pichat 8. 

Seminar Abstract

Over 35 years ago, the Ocean Storms Experiment (OSE) in the Northeast Pacific observed the generation of NIWs by a storm. The study found that, consistent with refraction resulting from the beta-effect, NIWs propagated downwards and towards the equator. Interestingly, mesoscale vorticity gradients, which exceed the beta-effect by a factor of ten, did not significantly impact NIW propagation.

In 2019, the NISKINe field program in the North Atlantic also observed the stormy generation and subsequent propagation of NIWs. However, the NISKINe observations revealed that NIW propagation is strongly influenced by mesoscale vorticity gradients and largely ignores the beta-effect. Using NIW-mean flow interaction theory, Professor Young explains that these differences are primarily due to the varying ocean stratification between the OSE and NISKINe sites: during OSE, wind energy was injected mainly into low vertical modes, while at NISKINe, NIW energy was broadly distributed into high vertical modes.

This seminar promises to provide valuable insights into the dynamics of NIWs and their propagation, drawing comparisons between historical and recent observations.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the field.

Join the meeting via Teams