Generation of internal solitary waves by the Mackenzie River plume in the coastal Arctic Ocean

Abstract

High-resolution spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images have verified the wide existence of internal solitary waves (ISWs) over the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. A major ISW generation hotspot has been observed at the mouth of the Mackenzie River. Considering the weak tidal currents and relatively flat topography of the Mackenzie Shelf, such ISWs are unlikely to be generated by tide–topography interactions. However, this is more likely caused by the intrusion of river plumes. Therefore, the generation of ISWs by the Mackenzie River plume is investigated numerically. A series of numerical simulations are conducted to explore the influence of stratification, river plume strength, and Earth's rotation on the generation and evolution of ISWs. The results indicate that the Mackenzie River plume is an essential ISW source for the coastal Arctic Ocean. The amplitude of the ISWs is affected by the intrusion strength of the Mackenzie River plume. In addition to the direct observational evidence from summer, the numerical results show that the environmental conditions in winter are suitable for the generation of ISWs. Rotation affects the amplitude of the generated ISWs and the number of ISWs in an ISW packet by modulating the plume intrusion strength and dispersing the ISWs. This study highlights the crucial role of the river plume mechanism in exciting ISWs and emphasizes the importance of ISWs for vertical mixing in the Arctic Ocean.