Modeling Internal Tidal Generation, Propagation and Transformation Adjacent to Point Sal, CA
Abstract
The outer-to inner shelf adjacent to Point Sal ,Ca is highly dynamic with wind, tidal and surface wave forcing, interacting with com"plex bathymetry. These processes modify water-column stratification on time scales<1 day with implications of acoustic signal propogation and navy operations. For the Inner-Shelf Departmental Research Initiative (DRI) the Point Sal region is beign heavily instrumented and modeled. The focus of ongoing modeling work is to identify the primary inner-shelf circulation drivers followed by Generali"zed Stability Analysis. In collaboration with these efforts, a focused modeling study of semi-diurnal internal tides, and their seas"onal variability would contribute to The DRI objectives. Here we propose to use a system nested one-way implentations of the Regiona"l Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) to identify seasonal variability in semi-diurnal internal tidal generation, propagation towards the c""ontinental shelf, and dissipation in the Point Sal region. Particular consideration will be given to the contrast between local (for""m climatological boundary conditions) and remote internal tides(from global data-assimilated HYCOM). Furthermore, extensive comparis""on will be conducted between observed and modeled, internal tidal fluxes and energy dissipation from the 2015 pilot study, and the u"pcoming 2017 full scale field experiment. The proposed work will estimate the variability in semi-diurnal tide processes over the st"udy region, locate regions with strong conversion from barotropic to baroclinic tides, quantify internal tidal energy fluxes and the"ir transition from coherent (phase-locked) to incoherency. The model results will also diagnoseregions in the coastal ocean where hy"drostatic assumptions may fail, and a non-hydrostatic modeling system will be required to understand the dynamics farther onshore.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712890
Entities
People
- Nirnimesh Kumar
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Washington