Wind-induced barotropic oscillations around the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago (North-West Atlantic)

Abstract

We investigate the nearly barotropic oscillations recently observed around the Saint Pierre and Miquelon (SPM) archipelago. They were recorded by two ADCPs at about 30 m depth during winter and spring 2014. These oscillations were the dominant signal on the currents with a period of 2–4 days. Our analysis shows that these oscillations were triggered by the wind. To investigate these oscillations, a 2D numerical model was implemented at a regional scale. The results from a realistic simulation confirmed the impact of wind forcing on ocean dynamics in the region. They also showed amplification of these oscillations around SPM, particularly in the north-west of the archipelago and near Burin Peninsula. Analyses suggested the influence of continental shelf wave dynamics at a ‘regional’ scale. This regional wave then triggers a ‘local’ scale continental shelf wave propagating anticyclonically around SPM in ~2 days. Schematic modelling simulations with periodic wind stress forcing and relaxation after a gust of wind show a strong current response in this region with a wind stress periodicity centred around 2 days, which is attributed to resonance in the SPM area.