Abstract
[1] A new interpretation of SSH anomalies propagating in the California Current System as weakly nonlinear Rossby waves (RWs) is suggested. Satellite altimetry and float data were used to extract annual and semi-annual components of RWs from a multi-scale altimetry signal and estimate their kinematic characteristics. Different propagation regimes for the waves were identified by propagation speed, wave steepness and length of spatial phase coherence (SPC). A transition from a SSH field dominated by waves to a turbulent-like field was detected in the saturation regime. The recurrence period for wave behavior was estimated as about 105―120 (195-210) days for the semiannual (annual) component. The propagation speed and length of SPC decreased when wave steepness increased, and westward propagation halted during the saturation regime.
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