Open AccessQuantifying the Incoherent M2 Internal Tide in the Philippine Sea
Author(s) -
Colette Kerry,
Brian Powell,
Glenn S. Carter
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of physical oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1520-0485
pISSN - 0022-3670
DOI - 10.1175/jpo-d-16-0023.1
Subject(s) - baroclinity , barotropic fluid , internal tide , energy flux , geology , altimeter , climatology , flux (metallurgy) , internal wave , context (archaeology) , oceanography , geophysics , geodesy , physics , astronomy , metallurgy , paleontology , materials science
The baroclinic tides are a crucial source of mixing energy into the deep ocean; however, the incoherent portion of the spectrum is not well examined because it is difficult to observe. This study estimates the coherent and incoherent M 2 internal tide energy fluxes in the Philippine Sea using a primitive equation model that resolves the M 2 barotropic and baroclinic tides and the time-evolving atmospherically forced eddying circulation. A time-mean, incoherent, internal tide energy flux of 25% of the coherent energy flux is found to emanate eastward into the Philippine Sea from the Luzon Strait and a time-mean incoherent portion of 30% of the coherent energy flux propagates westward into the South China Sea (SCS). The incoherent internal tide energy results from baroclinic tide generation and propagation variability. Quantifying the incoherent portion estimates the energy missing from altimeter-derived or line-integral acoustic measurements and places short-lived, in situ observations in the context of variability.