Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Low-Frequency Seiche in a Large Bay

Jamie MacMahan Oceanography Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California

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Print Publication:
01 Mar 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-14-0169.1
Page(s):
716–723
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Abstract

Short-term observations of sea surface elevations η 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 η white noise within seiche frequency bands (24–69 cpd) provides a continuous resonant forcing of the bay seiche with a η2 (variance) amplification of 16–40 for the different modes. The temporal variation of the oceanic η white noise is significantly correlated (R2 = 0.86) at the 95% confidence interval with the bay seiche η that varies seasonally. The oceanic η white noise is hypothesized as being from low-frequency, free, infragravity waves that are forced by short waves.

Corresponding author address: Jamie MacMahan, Oceanography Department, Naval Postgraduate School, 833 Dyer Road, Bldg. 232, Room 327c, Monterey, CA 93943. E-mail: jhmacmah@nps.edu

Abstract

Short-term observations of sea surface elevations η 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 η white noise within seiche frequency bands (24–69 cpd) provides a continuous resonant forcing of the bay seiche with a η2 (variance) amplification of 16–40 for the different modes. The temporal variation of the oceanic η white noise is significantly correlated (R2 = 0.86) at the 95% confidence interval with the bay seiche η that varies seasonally. The oceanic η white noise is hypothesized as being from low-frequency, free, infragravity waves that are forced by short waves.

Corresponding author address: Jamie MacMahan, Oceanography Department, Naval Postgraduate School, 833 Dyer Road, Bldg. 232, Room 327c, Monterey, CA 93943. E-mail: jhmacmah@nps.edu
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