Inertial currents over the inner shelf near 30 degree N

Analysis of two, month-long current records (February and May) from the inner shelf (28.9 degrees N) west of the Mississippi River delta, show strong oscillations in the diurnal-inertial frequency band. Lack of correlation of these currents to the predicted or measured tide and strong association with frontal passages suggest that they are wind-induced, inertial oscillations. The observed oscillations are well reproduced by a time-dependent, wind-driven model incorporating Coriolis acceleration and friction (Pollard and Millard, 1970).