Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2017

Subjects

Internal waves -- Mathematical models, Internal waves -- Remote sensing, Tidal currents

Abstract

Internal waves at tidal frequencies, i.e., the internal tides, are a prominent source of variability in the ocean associated with significant vertical isopycnal displacements and currents. Because the isopycnal displacements are caused by ageostrophic dynamics, they contribute uncertainty to geostrophic transport inferred from vertical profiles in the ocean. Here it is demonstrated that a newly developed model of the main semidiurnal (M2) internal tide derived from satellite altimetry may be used to partially remove the tide from vertical profile data, as measured by the reduction of steric height variance inferred from the profiles. It is further demonstrated that the internal tide model can account for a component of the near-surface velocity as measured by drogued drifters. These comparisons represent a validation of the internal tide model using independent data and highlight its potential use in removing internal tide signals from in situ observations.

Description

Originally appeared in Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 44, pages 4241-4245. Published by the American Geophysical Union. DOI: 10.1002/2017GL072950.

May be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL072950/abstract

DOI

10.1002/2017GL072950

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/20921

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