Ocean Tides. Part 1. Global Ocean Tidal Equations

Abstract

A detailed derivation of improved ocean tidal equations in continuous (COTEs) and discrete (DOTEs) forms is presented. These equations feature the Boussinesq linear eddy dissipation law with a novel eddy viscosity that depends on the lateral mesh area, i.e., on mesh size and ocean depth. Analogously, the linear law of bottom friction is used with a new bottom friction coefficient depending on the bottom mesh area. The primary astronomical tide-generating potential is modified by secondary effects due to the oceanic and terrestrial tides. The fully linearized equations are defined in a single-layer ocean basin of realistic bathymetry varying from 50 m to 7000 m. The DOTEs are set up on a 1 by 1 deg spherically graded grid system, using central finite differences in connection with Richardson's staggered computation scheme. Mixed single-step finite differences in time are introduced, which enhance decay, dispersion, and stability properties of the DOTEs and facilitate--in Part 2 of this paper--a unique hydrodynamical interpolation of empirical tide data. The purely hydrodynamical modeling is completed by imposing boundary conditions consisting of now-flow across and free-slip along the mathematical ocean shorelines. Shortcomings of the constructed preliminary M2 ocean tide charts are briefly discussed. Needed improvements of the model are left to Part 2.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA089899

Entities

People

  • Ernst W. Schwiderski

Organizations

  • Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Constitutive Equations
  • Differential Equations
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Navier Stokes Equations
  • Ocean Tides
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Publicly Available Information
  • Ridges
  • Sea Water
  • Standing Waves
  • Turbulent Flow

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers