The Internal Tide Off Southern California

The Internal Tide Off Southern California
Author: Robin George Williams
Publisher:
Total Pages: 372
Release: 1985
Genre: Tides
ISBN:

The internal tide may well form an important link in the chain of events between the forcing of the surface tide and the eventual dissipation of internal waves by viscous forces. Two issues related to this chain of events are addressed. One is the directionality of the internal tide off the coast of California and the other is the widespread occurrence of semi-diurnal tidal harmonics in internal wave spectra. It is commonly accepted that the internal tide derives its energy from the forcing of isopycnal surfaces over topographic features by the surface tide. Accordingly, steep continental slopes like the Patton escarpment should be important generation regions. The directionality of the internal tide off California and hence the importance of the Patton escarpment as a source are assessed by analyzing data collected by the R/P FLIP. The results indicate that the direction of propagation of the internal tide is variable and that the majority of its energy does not appear to originate at the escarpment.

Observations and Modeling of the Internal Tide in a Submarine Canyon

Observations and Modeling of the Internal Tide in a Submarine Canyon
Author: Emil T. Petruncio
Publisher:
Total Pages: 210
Release: 1996
Genre: Science
ISBN:

Shipboard ADCP and CTD measurements were conducted in Monterey Submarine Canyon in April and October 1994 to determine the propagation characteristics and energy levels of the semidiurnal internal tide. The measurements reveal a bottom intensified internal tide propagating energy up canyon. The region of strongest motion is in a beam 150-200 m thick, centered approximately 150 m above the Canyon floor. Along canyon baroclinic M2 currents are typically 15-20 cm/s, an order of magnitude larger than the estimated barotropic tidal currents. In April 1994, the internal tidal beam is well described by a progressive wave, while in October 1994, the signal is standing along and perpendicular to the beam. The Princeton Ocean Model was used to study the generation and propagation of semidiurnal internal tides in submarine canyons and to investigate their sensitivity to canyon shape.

Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington

Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309255945

Tide gauges show that global sea level has risen about 7 inches during the 20th century, and recent satellite data show that the rate of sea-level rise is accelerating. As Earth warms, sea levels are rising mainly because ocean water expands as it warms; and water from melting glaciers and ice sheets is flowing into the ocean. Sea-level rise poses enormous risks to the valuable infrastructure, development, and wetlands that line much of the 1,600 mile shoreline of California, Oregon, and Washington. As those states seek to incorporate projections of sea-level rise into coastal planning, they asked the National Research Council to make independent projections of sea-level rise along their coasts for the years 2030, 2050, and 2100, taking into account regional factors that affect sea level. Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington: Past, Present, and Future explains that sea level along the U.S. west coast is affected by a number of factors. These include: climate patterns such as the El NiƱo, effects from the melting of modern and ancient ice sheets, and geologic processes, such as plate tectonics. Regional projections for California, Oregon, and Washington show a sharp distinction at Cape Mendocino in northern California. South of that point, sea-level rise is expected to be very close to global projections. However, projections are lower north of Cape Mendocino because the land is being pushed upward as the ocean plate moves under the continental plate along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. However, an earthquake magnitude 8 or larger, which occurs in the region every few hundred to 1,000 years, would cause the land to drop and sea level to suddenly rise.

Oceanography

Oceanography
Author: Defense Documentation Center (U.S.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 702
Release: 1969
Genre: Oceanography
ISBN:

Oceanic Internal Tides: Observations, Analysis and Modeling

Oceanic Internal Tides: Observations, Analysis and Modeling
Author: Eugene G. Morozov
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2018-02-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319731599

This book presents a detailed study of the structure and variability of internal tides and their geographical distribution in the ocean. Based on experimental analysis of oceanic measurements combined with numerical modeling, it offers a comprehensive overview of the internal wave processes around the globe. In particular, it is based on moored buoys observations in many regions in all oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern) that have been carried out by researchers from different countries for more than 40 years as part of various oceanographic programs, including WOCE and CLIVAR. However, a significant portion of the data was collected by the author, who is a field oceanographer. The data was processed and interpreted on the basis of the latest knowledge of internal wave motion. The properties of internal waves were analyzed in relation to the bottom topography and mean state of the ocean in specific regions. Internal waves play a major role in the formation of seawater stratification and are responsible for the main processes of ocean dynamics, such as energy transfer and mixing. One of the most significant ideas presented in this book is the generation of internal tides over submarine ridges. Energy fluxes from submarine ridges related to tidal internal waves greatly exceed the fluxes from continental slopes. Submarine ridges form an obstacle to the propagation of tidal currents, which can cause the creation of large amplitude internal tides. Energy fluxes from submarine ridges account for approximately one fourth of the total energy dissipation of the barotropic tides. Model simulations and moored measurements have been combined to generate a map of global distribution of internal tide amplitudes. This book is of interest to oceanographers, marine biologists, civil engineers, and scientists working in climate research, fluid mechanics, acoustics, and underwater navigation.