On the origin of the inverted-barometer effect at subinertial frequencies

Summary

An analytical model, simulating the frictionless response of the sea contained in a rotating, rectangular channel of arbitrary width to air pressure waves travelling at varying directions, is developed. Since planetary atmospheric waves are of primary interest as forcing agents, a solution is found for subinertial frequencies. For an atmospheric wave travelling along a channel whose width is close to the Rossby deformation radius, the model predicts sea levels and currents organized in two coastal waves and a geostrophic current system prevailing in mid-basin. The right-hand coastal wave is more pronounced than the left-hand wave. The structure is coupled to the atmospheric wave, and is resonantly driven when the phase velocity of the forcing wave approaches the Kelvin wave velocity. Along the coasts a quasi-static adjustment occurs under off-resonant conditions. When the atmospheric wave is moving across the channel at a sharp angle, the response of the sea is enhanced for the apparent along-channel velocities below those of free shallow-water waves, due to reflections at channel boundaries. For the atmospheric wave that travels at right angle across the channel, the resonance is not possible, and the sea level undershoots a simple inverted-barometer response. Both travelling and standing waves appear in the channel. In the narrow-channel limit only a standing wave remains, with a nodal line in the middle of the channel. In the central part of the channel the currents are almost geostrophic at very low frequencies. The model is used to interpret some aspects of the response of the Mediterranean Sea to planetary-scale atmospheric forcing. In particular, it is shown that resonant transfer of energy from the atmosphere to the sea is most unlikely, since planetary atmospheric waves are rather slow and they travel along the main axis of the Mediterranean basin.