Comparison between observed and simulated wind-generated inertial oscillations

Abstract

Inertial current oscillations are computed using a simple model of forcing by a wind stress. Surface wind data obtained from sensors mounted on a moored buoy are used to supply the forcing function, and the computed current is compared with the observed current measured by instruments close to the surface on the same mooring as the wind recorder. The phase, amplitude, and intermittency of bursts of inertial oscillations in the mixed layer are surprisingly well reproduced, considering the simplicity of the model, and one concludes that such oscillations are predominantly locally generated by surface winds.