Intensified Diurnal Tides along the Oregon Coast

Abstract

Abstract Intensified diurnal tides are found along portions of the Oregon shelf (U.S. West Coast) based on analyses of high-frequency (HF) radar surface current data and outputs of a 1-km resolution ocean circulation model. The K1 tidal currents with magnitudes near 0.07 m s−1 over a wider part of the shelf (Heceta Bank complex; 44°–44.5°N), previously predicted by Erofeeva et al., are confirmed here by newly available HF radar data. Intensified diurnal tides are also found along the narrow shelf south of Heceta Bank. In the close vicinity of Cape Blanco (42.8°N), diurnal tidal currents (K1 and O1 constituents combined) may reach 0.3 m s−1. Appreciable differences in diurnal tide intensity are found depending on whether the model is forced with tides and winds (TW) or only tides. Also, diurnal variability in wind forcing is found to affect diurnal surface velocities. For the case forced by tides alone, results strongly depend on whether the model ocean is stratified [tides only, stratified (TOS)] or not [tides only, no stratification (TONS)]. In case TONS, coastal-trapped waves at diurnal frequencies do not occur over the narrow shelf south of 43.5°N, consistent with the dispersion analysis of a linear shallow-water model. However, in case TOS, diurnal tides are intensified in that area, associated with the presence of coastal-trapped waves. Case TW produces the strongest modeled diurnal tidal motions over the entire Oregon shelf, partially due to cross-shore tidal displacement (advection) of alongshore subinertial currents. At Cape Blanco, diurnal tidal variability dominates the modeled relative vorticity spectrum, suggesting that tides may influence the separation of the alongshore coastal jet at that location.