Toward a Universal Framework for the Internal Gravity Wave Spectrum

Abstract

The Garrett-Munk (GM) spectrum has long provided a canonical model of the oceanic internal gravity wave field. However, it relies on hydrostatic assumptions and idealized stratification that limit its applicability where non-hydrostatic dynamics, vertical boundary effects, or non-monotonic stratification are important. Here we develop a generalized framework for the internal wave spectrum based on non-hydrostatic vertical modes formulated in horizontal wavenumber-vertical mode space. Energetic orthogonality among wave modes requires that such a formulation be cast in horizontal wavenumber space rather than frequency space. In this formulation, the deformation radius associated with each vertical mode provides a proxy for distinguishing hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic regimes. Vertical modes are obtained numerically from the fixed-K Sturm-Liouville problem, allowing arbitrary stratification and multiple turning depths. Combined with a generalized spectral function, the formulation yields expected distributions of horizontal kinetic, vertical kinetic, and potential energy as functions of depth, frequency, and horizontal wavenumber. Example applications illustrate departures from GM theory associated with boundary effects and non-hydrostatic dynamics, including improved representation of vertical variance and high-frequency vertical kinetic energy, while reproducing observed features of horizontal wavenumber spectra.