Mixing Driven by Critical Reflection of Near-Inertial Waves over the Texas–Louisiana Shelf

Abstract

Studies of internal wave-driven mixing in the coastal ocean have been focused on internal tides, while wind-driven near-inertial waves (NIWs) have received less attention in this regard. This study demonstrates a scenario of NIW-driven mixing over the Texas–Louisiana shelf. Supported by a high-resolution simulation over the shelf, the NIWs driven by land–sea breeze radiate downward at a sharp front and enhance the mixing in the bottom boundary layer where the NIWs are focused because of slantwise critical reflection. The criterion for slantwise critical reflection of NIWs is