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Recent Advances in Fluid Dynamics with Environmental Applications pp 203–213Cite as

Internal Wave Observations in the Petacalco Canyon, México

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Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVENG))

Abstract

This study presents the observation of large amplitude internal wave activity, of the order of 50 m, near the head of the Petacalco submarine canyon located in the Mexican Pacific. The waves propagate with periods similar to the \(M_2\) tide component and the observations show that the rates of change of temperature reached up to 10 \(^{\circ }\)C/hr. The presence of submarine canyons enhances turbulent mixing locally. The slopes of the canyon’s wall trap the waves as they propagate up-canyon. Based on linear wave theory, along the axis slope of the Petacalco canyon there are regions where the critical refraction is reached, suggesting that there are regions favorable for wave breakage. This process enhances mixing of cold water masses with shelf hot water. Through this mechanism, the mixed waters remain near the surface for longer periods of time, resulting in an alternative process to upwelling. Additionally, it is suggested that this process may be very important in the region since the winds there are very weak and do not support wind driven upwelling transport for most of the year.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the members of the Grupo Interacción Océano Atmósfera for all their support and E. Tai-Osorio for her invaluable help on generating the detailed bathymetry. This work was supported by the Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPITT) from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) project numbers: IN116111 and RR11611. A. Ruiz-Angulo would like to thank DGAPA for his postdoctoral scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Mexico

    A. Ruiz-Angulo & J. Zavala-Hidalgo

Authors
  1. A. Ruiz-Angulo
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  2. J. Zavala-Hidalgo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Ruiz-Angulo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Ocoyoacac, Mexico

    Jaime Klapp

  2. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, UAM Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico

    Leonardo Di G. Sigalotti

  3. SEPI ESIME Azcapotzalco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico

    Abraham Medina

  4. SEPI ESIME Azcapotzalco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico

    Abel López

  5. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

    Gerardo Ruiz-Chavarría

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Ruiz-Angulo, A., Zavala-Hidalgo, J. (2016). Internal Wave Observations in the Petacalco Canyon, México. In: Klapp, J., Sigalotti, L.D.G., Medina, A., López, A., Ruiz-Chavarría, G. (eds) Recent Advances in Fluid Dynamics with Environmental Applications. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27965-7_16

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