A Numerical Study of Coastal-Trapped Waves in Jervis Bay, Australia

Coastal-trapped waves (CTWs) in Jervis Bay were investigated using a Jervis Bay Ocean Model (JBOM), based on the Princeton Ocean Model. Under the typical temperature stratification in Jervis Bay in summer, the first three modes of external CTWs can scatter into the bay. The wind stress inside Jervis Bay can generate CTWs, and the wind stress on the adjacent shelf can also generate CTWs in the bay by oscillations at the bay's opening, which are associated with temperature fluctuations there. The actual subinertial CTWs in Jervis Bay are a result of the interference of these CTWs. The amplitudes of the first three CTW modes were calculated from the observed sea level data. Three numerical experiments were designed to identify the major forcing for the observed subinertial temperature oscillations in Jervis Bay during an observational program in the summer of 1988/89. It was found that the local wind stress was the major contributor to the observed oscillations.