Resonant tidal responses in rotating fluid bodies: global modes hidden beneath localized wave beams

TL;DR

This paper uncovers that resonant tidal responses in rotating stars and planets are due to inertial modes with large-scale flows hidden beneath localized wave beams, explaining the erratic frequency dependence of tidal dissipation.

Contribution

It reveals the nature of inertial mode resonances as hidden large-scale flows, clarifying the mechanism behind enhanced tidal dissipation at specific frequencies.

Findings

Resonant responses are linked to hidden inertial modes with large-scale flows.

Localized wave beams are intensified by coupling with these hidden modes.

The study explains the erratic frequency dependence of tidal dissipation.

Abstract

In rotating stars and planets, excitation of inertial waves in convective envelopes provides an important channel for tidal dissipation, but the dissipation rate due to inertial waves depends erratically on the tidal frequency. Tidal dissipation is significantly enhanced at some frequencies, suggesting possible resonances between the tidal forcing and some eigenmodes. However, the nature of these resonances remains enigmatic owing to the singularity of the eigenvalue problem of inertial waves, and the resonances are often mistakenly attributed to wave attractors in the literature. In this letter, we reveal that resonant tidal responses correspond to inertial modes with large-scale flows hidden beneath localized wave beams. Strong couplings between the tidal forcing and the hidden large-scale flows intensify the localized wave beams emanating from the critical latitudes, leading to enhanced tidal dissipation. This study resolves a long-standing puzzle regarding the frequency-dependence of tidal dissipation due to inertial waves in convective envelopes.