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The influence of subinertial internal tides on near-topographic turbulence at the Mendocino Ridge: Observations and Modeling.

The influence of subinertial internal tides on near-topographic turbulence at the Mendocino... AbstractShipboard measurements of velocity and density were obtained in the vicinity of a small channel in the Mendocino Ridge, where flows were predominantly tidal. Measured daily inequalities in transport are much greater than those predicted by a barotropic tide model, with the strongest transport associated with full depth flows, and the weakest with shallow, surface-confined flows. A regional numerical model of the area finds that the subinertial K1 (diurnal) tidal constituent generates topographically trapped waves which propagate anticyclonically around the ridge, and are associated with enhanced near-topographic K1 transports. The interaction of the baroclinic trapped waves with the surface tide produces a tidal flow whose northward transports alternate between being surface confined and full depth. Full depth flows are associated with the generation of a large amplitude tidal lee wave on the northward face of the ridge, while surface confined flows are largely nonturbulent. The regional model demonstrates that, consistent with field observations, near-topographic dissipation over the entire ridge is diurnally modulated, despite the semidiurnal tidal constituent having larger barotropic velocities. We conclude that at this location it is the bottom-trapped subinertial internal tide that governs near-topographic dissipation and mixing. The effect of the trapped wave on regional energetics is to increase the fraction of converted barotropic-baroclinic tidal energy that dissipates locally. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Physical Oceanography American Meteorological Society

The influence of subinertial internal tides on near-topographic turbulence at the Mendocino Ridge: Observations and Modeling.

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Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Copyright
Copyright © American Meteorological Society
ISSN
1520-0485
DOI
10.1175/JPO-D-16-0278.1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AbstractShipboard measurements of velocity and density were obtained in the vicinity of a small channel in the Mendocino Ridge, where flows were predominantly tidal. Measured daily inequalities in transport are much greater than those predicted by a barotropic tide model, with the strongest transport associated with full depth flows, and the weakest with shallow, surface-confined flows. A regional numerical model of the area finds that the subinertial K1 (diurnal) tidal constituent generates topographically trapped waves which propagate anticyclonically around the ridge, and are associated with enhanced near-topographic K1 transports. The interaction of the baroclinic trapped waves with the surface tide produces a tidal flow whose northward transports alternate between being surface confined and full depth. Full depth flows are associated with the generation of a large amplitude tidal lee wave on the northward face of the ridge, while surface confined flows are largely nonturbulent. The regional model demonstrates that, consistent with field observations, near-topographic dissipation over the entire ridge is diurnally modulated, despite the semidiurnal tidal constituent having larger barotropic velocities. We conclude that at this location it is the bottom-trapped subinertial internal tide that governs near-topographic dissipation and mixing. The effect of the trapped wave on regional energetics is to increase the fraction of converted barotropic-baroclinic tidal energy that dissipates locally.

Journal

Journal of Physical OceanographyAmerican Meteorological Society

Published: Jun 20, 2017

References