TY  - JOUR
A1  - Köhler, Janna
A1  - Walter, Maren
A1  - Mertens, Christian
A1  - Stiehler, Jan
A1  - Li, Zhuhua
A1  - Zhao, Zhongxiang
A1  - von Storch, Jin-Song
A1  - Rhein, Monika
T1  - Energy Flux Observations in an Internal Tide Beam in the Eastern North Atlantic
Y1  - 2019
VL  - 124
IS  - 8
SP  - 5747
EP  - 5764
JF  - Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
DO  - 10.1029/2019JC015156
DO  - 10.23689/fidgeo-5093
N2  - Low-mode internal waves propagate over large distances and provide energy for turbulent mixing when they break far from their generation sites. A realistic representation of the oceanic energy cycle in ocean and climate models requires a consistent implementation of their generation, propagation, and dissipation. Here we combine the long-term mean energy flux from satellite altimetry with results from a 1/10° global ocean general circulation model that resolves the low modes of internal waves and in situ observations of stratification and horizontal currents to study energy flux and dissipation along a 1000 km internal tide beam in the eastern North Atlantic. Internal wave fluxes were estimated from twelve 36- to 48-hr stations in along- and across-beam direction to resolve both the inertial period and tidal cycle. The observed internal tide energy fluxes range from 5.9 kW m−1 near the generation sites to 0.5 kW m−1 at distant stations. Estimates of energy dissipation come from both finestructure and upper ocean microstructure profiles and range, vertically integrated, from 0.5 to 3.3 mW m−2 along the beam. Overall, the in situ observations confirm the internal tide pattern derived from satellite altimetry, but the in situ energy fluxes are more variable and decrease less monotonically along the beam. Internal tides in the model propagate over shorter distances compared to results from altimetry and in situ measurements, but more spatial details close the main generation sites are resolved.
UR  - http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/9439
ER  -