Internal tides, internal waves and near-inertial motions

1986 ◽  
pp. 19-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Baines
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Internal Tides

Tidal Internal Waves in the Bransfield Strait, Antarctica

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Morozov ◽  
Dmitry Frey ◽  
Elizaveta Khimchenko
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Bottom Topography ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Internal Tide ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
South Shetland Islands ◽  
Flat Bottom ◽  
Bransfield Strait ◽  
Vertical Displacements ◽  
Rfbr Grant

<p>Observations of tidal internal waves in the Bransfield Strait, Antarctica, are analyzed. The measurements were carried out for 14 days on a moored station equipped with five autonomous temperature and pressure sensors. The mooring was deployed on the slope of Nelson Island (South Shetland Islands archipelago) over a depth of 70 m at point 62°21ꞌ S, 58°49ꞌ W. Analysis is based on the fluctuations of isotherms.  Vertical displacements of temperature revealed that strong internal vertical oscillations up to 30–40 m are caused by the diurnal internal tide. Spectral analysis of vertical displacements of the 0.9°C isotherm showed a clear peak at a period of 24 h. It is known that the tides in the Bransfield Strait are mostly mixed diurnal and semidiurnal, but during the Antarctic summer, diurnal tide component may intensify. The velocity ellipses of the barotropic tidal currents were estimated using the global tidal model TPXO9.0. It was found that tidal ellipses rotate clockwise with a period of 24 h and anticlockwise with a period of 12 h. The waves are forced due to the interaction of the barotropic tide with the bottom topography. Diurnal internal tides do not develop at latitudes higher than 30º over flat bottom. The research was supported by RFBR grant 20-08-00246.</p>

Dissipating and reflecting internal waves

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Callum J. Shakespeare ◽  
Brian K. Arbic ◽  
Andrew McC. Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Linear Theory ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Energy Flux ◽  
Internal Tide ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Linear Wave ◽  
Lee Waves ◽  
Lee Wave ◽  
Upper Boundary

AbstractInternal waves generated at the seafloor propagate through the interior of the ocean, driving mixing where they break and dissipate. However, existing theories only describe these waves in two limiting cases. In one limit, the presence of an upper boundary permits bottom-generated waves to reflect from the ocean surface back to the seafloor, and all the energy flux is at discrete wavenumbers corresponding to resonant modes. In the other limit, waves are strongly dissipated such that they do not interact with the upper boundary and the energy flux is continuous over wavenumber. Here, a novel linear theory is developed for internal tides and lee waves that spans the parameter space in between these two limits. The linear theory is compared with a set of numerical simulations of internal tide and lee wave generation at realistic abyssal hill topography. The linear theory is able to replicate the spatially-averaged kinetic energy and dissipation of even highly non-linear wave fields in the numerical simulations via an appropriate choice of the linear dissipation operator, which represents turbulent wave breaking processes.

A Methodology to Characterize Internal Solitons in the Ocean

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrique Coelho ◽  
Zhong Peng ◽  
Dave Sproson ◽  
Jill Bradon
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Phase Speed ◽  
Selection Procedure ◽  
Wave Theory ◽  
Tidal Energy ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Linear Wave ◽  
Soliton Generation

Internal waves in the ocean occur in stably stratified fluids when a water parcel is vertically displaced by some external forcing and is restored by buoyancy forces. A specific case of such internal waves is internal tides and their associated currents. These currents can be significant in areas where internal waves degenerate into nonlinear solitary waves, known as solitons. Solitons are potentially hazardous for offshore engineering constructions, such as oil/gas pipelines and floating platforms. The most efficient mechanism of soliton generation is the tidal energy conversion from barotropic to baroclinic component over large-scale oceanic bottom obstructions (shelf breaks, seamounts, canyons and ridges). In this paper, a methodology is provided to compute diagnostics and prognostics for soliton generation and propagation, including the associated currents. The methodology comprises a diagnostic tool which, through the use of a set of theoretical and empirical formulations, selects areas where solitons are likely to occur. These theoretical and empirical formulations include the computation of the integral body force (1), the linear wave theory to compute the phase speed and the empirical model proposed by (2). After the selection procedure, the tool provides initial and boundary conditions for non-hydrostatic numerical models. The numerical models run in 2D-V configuration (vertical slices) with horizontal and vertical resolutions ranging from 50 to 200 m and 5 to 10 m, respectively. Examples are provided for an open ocean location over the Mascarene Plateau in the Indian Ocean. Validation of diagnostics and prognostics are provided against ADCP and satellite data.

Global Assessment of Semidiurnal Internal Tide Aliasing in Argo Profiles

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 2523-2533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler D. Hennon ◽  
Matthew H. Alford ◽  
Zhongxiang Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Internal Tide ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Stationary Mode ◽  
Argo Floats ◽  
New Information ◽  
In Situ Observations ◽  
Argo Profiles

AbstractThough unresolved by Argo floats, internal waves still impart an aliased signal onto their profile measurements. Recent studies have yielded nearly global characterization of several constituents of the stationary internal tides. Using this new information in conjunction with thousands of floats, we quantify the influence of the stationary, mode-1 M2 and S2 internal tides on Argo-observed temperature. We calculate the in situ temperature anomaly observed by Argo floats (usually on the order of 0.1°C) and compare it to the anomaly expected from the stationary internal tides derived from altimetry. Globally, there is a small, positive correlation between the expected and in situ signals. There is a stronger relationship in regions with more intense internal waves, as well as at depths near the nominal mode-1 maximum. However, we are unable to use this relationship to remove significant variance from the in situ observations. This is somewhat surprising, given that the magnitude of the altimetry-derived signal is often on a similar scale to the in situ signal, and points toward a greater importance of the nonstationary internal tides than previously assumed.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Variable Mixing Efficiency on the Abyssal Overturning

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 663-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casimir de Lavergne ◽  
Gurvan Madec ◽  
Julien Le Sommer ◽  
A. J. George Nurser ◽  
Alberto C. Naveira Garabato
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Bottom Water ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Mixing Efficiency ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Antarctic Bottom Water ◽  
Energy Fraction ◽  
Geothermal Heating ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn studies of ocean mixing, it is generally assumed that small-scale turbulent overturns lose 15%–20% of their energy in eroding the background stratification. Accumulating evidence that this energy fraction, or mixing efficiency Rf, significantly varies depending on flow properties challenges this assumption, however. Here, the authors examine the implications of a varying mixing efficiency for ocean energetics and deep-water mass transformation. Combining current parameterizations of internal wave-driven mixing with a recent model expressing Rf as a function of a turbulence intensity parameter Reb = εν/νN2, the ratio of dissipation εν to stratification N2 and molecular viscosity ν, it is shown that accounting for reduced mixing efficiencies in regions of weak stratification or energetic turbulence (high Reb) strongly limits the ability of breaking internal waves to supply oceanic potential energy and drive abyssal upwelling. Moving from a fixed Rf = 1/6 to a variable efficiency Rf(Reb) causes Antarctic Bottom Water upwelling induced by locally dissipating internal tides and lee waves to fall from 9 to 4 Sverdrups (Sv; 1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) and the corresponding potential energy source to plunge from 97 to 44 GW. When adding the contribution of remotely dissipating internal tides under idealized distributions of energy dissipation, the total rate of Antarctic Bottom Water upwelling is reduced by about a factor of 2, reaching 5–15 Sv, compared to 10–33 Sv for a fixed efficiency. The results suggest that distributed mixing, overflow-related boundary processes, and geothermal heating are more effective in consuming abyssal waters than topographically enhanced mixing by breaking internal waves. These calculations also point to the importance of accurately constraining Rf(Reb) and including the effect in ocean models.

scholarly journals Significant internal waves and internal tides measured northeast of Taiwan

2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy F. Duda ◽  
Arthur E. Newhall ◽  
Glen Gawarkiewicz ◽  
Michael J. Caruso ◽  
Hans C. Graber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Internal Tides

scholarly journals Speed and Evolution of Nonlinear Internal Waves Transiting the South China Sea

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1338-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew H. Alford ◽  
Ren-Chieh Lien ◽  
Harper Simmons ◽  
Jody Klymak ◽  
Steve Ramp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Continental Slope ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Deep Basin ◽  
Nonlinear Internal Waves ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Upper Slope

Abstract In the South China Sea (SCS), 14 nonlinear internal waves are detected as they transit a synchronous array of 10 moorings spanning the waves’ generation site at Luzon Strait, through the deep basin, and onto the upper continental slope 560 km to the west. Their arrival time, speed, width, energy, amplitude, and number of trailing waves are monitored. Waves occur twice daily in a particular pattern where larger, narrower “A” waves alternate with wider, smaller “B” waves. Waves begin as broad internal tides close to Luzon Strait’s two ridges, steepening to O(3–10 km) wide in the deep basin and O(200–300 m) on the upper slope. Nearly all waves eventually develop wave trains, with larger–steeper waves developing them earlier and in greater numbers. The B waves in the deep basin begin at a mean speed of ≈5% greater than the linear mode-1 phase speed for semidiurnal internal waves (computed using climatological and in situ stratification). The A waves travel ≈5%–10% faster than B waves until they reach the continental slope, presumably because of their greater amplitude. On the upper continental slope, all waves speed up relative to linear values, but B waves now travel 8%–12% faster than A waves, in spite of being smaller. Solutions of the Taylor–Goldstein equation with observed currents demonstrate that the B waves’ faster speed is a result of modulation of the background currents by an energetic diurnal internal tide on the upper slope. Attempts to ascertain the phase of the barotropic tide at which the waves were generated yielded inconsistent results, possibly partly because of contamination at the easternmost mooring by eastward signals generated at Luzon Strait’s western ridge. These results present a coherent picture of the transbasin evolution of the waves but underscore the need to better understand their generation, the nature of their nonlinearity, and propagation through a time-variable background flow, which includes the internal tides.

scholarly journals Modeling and Analysis of Internal-Tide Generation and Beamlike Onshore Propagation in the Vicinity of Shelfbreak Canyons

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 834-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weifeng G. Zhang ◽  
Timothy F. Duda ◽  
Ilya A. Udovydchenkov
Keyword(s):  
Internal Wave ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Internal Tide ◽  
Propagation Model ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Wave Radiation ◽  
Beam Radiation ◽  
Control Simulation ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
The Cross

Abstract A hydrostatic numerical model with alongshore-uniform barotropic M2 tidal boundary forcing and idealized shelfbreak canyon bathymetries is used to study internal-tide generation and onshore propagation. A control simulation with Mid-Atlantic Bight representative bathymetry is supported by other simulations that serve to identify specific processes. The canyons and adjacent slopes are transcritical in steepness with respect to M2 internal wave characteristics. Although the various canyons are symmetrical in structure, barotropic-to-baroclinic energy conversion rates Cυ are typically asymmetrical within them. The resulting onshore-propagating internal waves are the strongest along beams in the horizontal plane, with the stronger beam in the control simulation lying on the side with higher Cυ. Analysis of the simulation results suggests that the cross-canyon asymmetrical Cυ distributions are caused by multiple-scattering effects on one canyon side slope, because the phase variation in the spatially distributed internal-tide sources, governed by variations in the orientation of the bathymetry gradient vector, allows resonant internal-tide generation. A less complex, semianalytical, modal internal wave propagation model with sources placed along the critical-slope locus (where the M2 internal wave characteristic is tangent to the seabed) and variable source phasing is used to diagnose the physics of the horizontal beams of onshore internal wave radiation. Model analysis explains how the cross-canyon phase and amplitude variations in the locally generated internal tides affect parameters of the internal-tide beams. Under the assumption that strong internal tides on continental shelves evolve to include nonlinear wave trains, the asymmetrical internal-tide generation and beam radiation effects may lead to nonlinear internal waves and enhanced mixing occurring preferentially on one side of shelfbreak canyons, in the absence of other influencing factors.

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