ABSTRACT 

 Temperature fluctuations in the ocean obtained from data 

 collected during Operation STANDSTILL are analyzed by 

 power spectrum techniques to determine the periods of 

 internal waves. The analysis indicates that the power 

 outside the noise level is concentrated in periods from 20 

 to 26 hours. Two physical causes for diurnal periods are 

 suggested: eddies due to instability south of the Gulf 

 Stream, and free oscillations, controlled by the Coriolis 

 force, in resonance with the diurnal tidal components. It is 

 concluded that the latter cause probably is responsible for 

 the peak power of internal waves at periods between 22 

 and 24 hours. 



written by 



ALLEN L. BROWN, EDWARD L. CORTON 



and 



LLOYD S. SIMPSON 



Applied Oceanography Branch 

 Division of Oceanography 



