The Three‐Dimensional Internal Tide Radiation and Dissipation in the Mariana Arc‐Trench System

Abstract

AbstractInternal tides are energetic in the Mariana arc, but their three‐dimensional radiation and dissipation remain unexplored, particularly the trench‐arc‐basin impacts. Here, the generation, propagation and dissipation of M2 internal tides over the Mariana area are examined using a series of observation‐supported high‐resolution simulations. The M2 barotropic to baroclinic conversion rate amounts to 8.35 GW, of which two arc‐shaped ridges contribute ∼81% of the generated energy. The contributions to generation by the Mariana basin and deep trench are weak. Nevertheless, they are important in modulating the energy radiation and dissipation, since tidal beams can spread to these areas. The Mariana ridges radiate the westward‐focused and eastward‐spreading tidal beams. This is very consistent with the altimetric measurements. The resonance in the ridge center enhances the westward converging beam, which can travel across the Palau Ridge, 800 km away. In contrast, the eastward beams propagate over a limited lateral range, but can radiate and dissipate significant energy in the deep water column, reaching even to the abyssal Mariana trench. The direct estimation from the model results reveals the dissipation's multilayer vertical profile in the entire water column, and is well consistent with the finescale parameterization estimate based on vertical strain. However, the estimate of an oft‐used energy balance method, which typically assumes an exponentially decaying vertical structure function for the dissipation rate based on distance above the seafloor, is largely inconsistent with the measurements. Our findings highlight the complexity of three‐dimensional radiation paths and dissipation map of internal tides in the Mariana area.