A Study of Tides, Setup and Bottom Friction in a Shallow Semi-Enclosed Basin. Part I: Field Experiment and Harmonic Analysis

Abstract

This paper is the first in a series reporting the results of a study of tides, setup and bottom friction in the Bight of Abaco, Bahamas. The paper describes three month-long field experiments. employing 15 tide gages and four weather stations distributed throughout the Bight. The amplitude and phase of five principal tidal constituents and the M4 and M6 overtides are estimated for all stations and errors computed from a generalization/hybridization of the algorithm of Munk and Hasselman (1964) for tidal doublets. The resulting tidal distributions constitute an unusually complete data base against which to optimize the numerical models reported in Parts II and III of the series. The relatively small amplitude of the override constituents along the western margin of the Bight suggests that these constituents are locally generated. Residual fluctuations are highly coherent with the wind field. Significant differential setup effects are apparent.