Internal Tides and Tidal Mixing in the Ross and Weddell Seas

Columbia University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

0003425 Visbeck The proposed work is an attempt to use a modified version of the Princeton Ocean Model (a widely-used numerical model of the ocean developed by the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory) to characterize the vertical structure of tides in the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea, and to separate the barotropic and baroclinic components. The barotropic tide is uniform from the ocean surface to the bottom, and influences mixing in the water column, benthic dissipation of momentum, and the formation of leads in sea ice. The baroclinic tide varies with depth, and introduces internal waves, benthic jet formation, and can intensify surface divergence. Currently little is known about the vertical structure of antarctic tidal dynamics and their influence continental shelf and slope processes. The focus of this project will be on the semi-diurnal tides, with the expected result a new understanding of generation regions for internal tides, regions of increased benthic velocities and shear, surface divergence, and tidal mixing through the water column. ***