Analysis Of Fram Strait Inertial Flow Characters And Physical Mechanism Of Its Generation And Change

This paper is the first attempt to analysis inertial flow of Fram Strait using buoydata, and separate inertial flow from observed data by applying least square methodcombined with harmonic analysis, and analysis variations of amplitude and frequencyof inertial flow. Seasonal variation of inertial flow is analysed by combing wind fieldand pressure field upon sea surface. The relationship between inertial flow and AOindex in long-term timeis discussed. Furthermore, variation of phase in verticaldirection is analysed and the links between inertial flow depth with the consistency ofphase is suggested.The size of the inertial flow shows a decrease trend with the depth on far shore ofthe Fram Strait, which implies energy gradually attenuation downward processing ofinertial flow. The weaken trend of amplitude decreases from surface to bottom nearshore. The amplitude of the inertial flow tends to decrease from the surface to thebottom In the near shore, there has been a phenomenon of inertial flow bottomenhancement due to topographical constraints. Comparing characteristics ofamplitude and frequency of inertial flow at offshore and inshore, we can get thatinertial flow is mainly affected by stability of ocean currents.Inertial flow has seasonal variation, with the stongest behavior in spring andwinter owing to strong variation in wind field and pressure field. The goodrelationship between inertial flow and wind field as well as pressure field suggeststhat produces of inertial flow are main effected by variation of wind field and pressurefield upon sea surface. The inertial flow can often be delayed2months to get thestrongest when AO index strong negative phase.North component uniformity in phase of inertial flow is far better than that of eastcomponent in the vertical. The main factor affecting the inertial flow phase uniformityis flow and mixing of seawater. Generally, greater current fluctuation correspondswith stronger, which means less stability in ocean currents, so inertial flow uniformity of phase spread at velocity was broken more easily. As the depth increases, watergets better stability of the mixed layer below sea level, and that’s why inertial flowhas a better phase uniformity in vertical.