Tidal current ellipses in a three-dimensional baroclinic numerical model of the Gulf of California

Abstract

Using a numerical model of the circulation of the Gulf of California, a description of the tidal ellipses parameters is given. The best modeled constituents are those of the semidiurnal band, while those of the diurnal band are underestimated. In general, tidal ellipse semimajor axes for the diurnal and semidiurnal bands increase from south to north with a maximum in the archipelago area. The annual and semiannual components are largest in the southern part. The eccentricity of the internal tide is larger than the barotropic tide, but in general the currents are mostly rectilinear with no preferred sense of rotation. It is found that the barotropic currents are more energetic than the baroclinic currents. The most energetic component is the barotropic M2 component, followed by the Ssa, S2, and Sa harmonics. For the internal currents the energy levels of the M2, Ssa, and Sa harmonics are about the same, and are much larger than the rest of the constituents.