Topographic height dependence of internal wave generation by tidal flow over random topography
Abstract
Internal waves (IWs) generated by tidal flow over the seafloor play a critical role in ocean circulation and climate. We determine the dependence of the radiated IW power on topographic parameters in numerical simulations of tidal flow over two‐dimensional random topographic profiles that have the spectrum of oceanic abyssal hills. The IW power increases as the horizontal spatial resolution scale is decreased, but below a certain spatial scale the power saturates at a level less than the linear theory prediction. For increasing topographic RMS height Hrms the emergent interference of the tide and the IWs from different generation sites leads to a transition in the IW power dependence on Hrms from quadratic to linear. This transition in the scaling of the IW power depends on the slopes of a valley's nearest neighboring peaks. Our results should guide the modeling of IW generation by tidal flow over small‐scale ocean topography.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 08, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.1002/2015gl065650
Entities
People
- Harry L. Swinney
- Jiajun Zhao
- Likun Zhang
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- University of Texas at Austin