Two-Layer Tidal Circulation in a Frictional, Rotating Basin

Abstract

The three-dimensional tidal circulation in an elongated basin of arbitrary depth is described with a coupled barotropic and baroclinic two-layer model on the f plane. As long as friction is not dominant, near-standing waves are present on the interface as well as on the surface. The surface pattern is principally determined by the product of the tidal barotropic wavenumber by the basin length. The interface deformation is determined by a baroclinic equivalent, usually a much larger number. As a result, the shape of the interface is characterized by horizontally smaller features than the surface. If the product of the tidal baroclinic wavenumber by the basin width is greater than one, both lateral and axial modes can be excited at the interface. If these modes are near resonant, large internal tides can be forced directly by the co-oscillating surface tide at the basin entrance. The amplitude and phase of the baroclinic component are sensitive functions of the density anomaly and the interface depth. As a result, the phase and amplitude of the interface vary by large amounts with comparatively small changes in those parameters. The model behavior is qualitatively consistent with observations in fjords and straits.