Energy of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea

Details Energy of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea Energy of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea

Mar 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005georl..3205615l&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 32, Issue 5, CiteID L05615

Physics

23

Oceanography: Physical: Internal And Inertial Waves, Oceanography: Physical: Upper Ocean And Mixed Layer Processes, Oceanography: Physical: Turbulence, Diffusion, And Mixing Processes (4490), Oceanography: Physical: Western Boundary Currents, Oceanography: General: Remote Sensing And Electromagnetic Processes (0689, 2487, 3285, 4455, 6934)

Scientific paper

Four sets of ADCP measurements were taken in the South China Sea (SCS); these results were combined with previous satellite observations and internal-tide numerical model results. Analysis suggests that strong internal tides are generated in Luzon Strait, propagate as a narrow tidal beam into the SCS, are amplified by the shoaling continental slope near TungSha Island, become nonlinear, and evolve into high-frequency nonlinear internal waves (NIW). Internal waves in the SCS have geographically distinct characteristics. (1) West of Luzon Strait the total internal wave energy (Eiw) is 10 × that predicted by Garrett-Munk spectra (EGM) (Levine, 2002). There is no sign of NIW. (2) Near TungSha Island Eiw = 13 × EGM. Strong nonlinear and high-harmonic tides are present. Repetitive trains of large-amplitude NIW appear primarily at a semidiurnal periodicity with their amplitudes modulated at a fortnightly tidal cycle. The rms vertical velocity of NIW shows a clear spring-neap tidal cycle and is linearly proportional to the barotropic tidal height in Luzon Strait with a 1.85-day time lag, consistent with the travel time of internal tides from Luzon Strait to TungSha Island. (3) At the northern SCS shelfbreak Eiw = 4 × EGM. Single depression waves are found, but no multiple-waves packets are evident. (4) On the continental shelf Eiw = 2 × EGM. Both depression and elevation NIW exist.

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