Generation and structural properties of internal waves in Hood Canal

Abstract

Internal waves were first reported by Vilhelm Bjerknes as the phenomenon called “dead water,” and can now be observed all over the world. In Hood Canal, a fjord in the southwestern portion of Puget Sound, internal waves can be observed propagating long the channel. In this study, Seagliders are used to collect profiles of temperature, salinity, and pressure which are used to calculate vertical wave modes and water displacement. The study looks at the structure of internal waves seen in Hood Canal and discusses their mechanisms for generation.