Vertical Structure Of Tidal Currents Research Articles

Mooring observations of tidal currents in the Jailolo Strait of the Indonesian seas

The vertical structure of internal tidal currents in the Jailolo Strait of the Indonesian seas is studied using the year-long mooring observations with two Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler instruments looking upward and downward, respectively, coving the full depth of the strait. The barotropic tides are extracted from the full-depth current profile measurements, showing the dominant M2, K1, and O1 tidal currents with amplitudes of 13.5 cm s−1, 11.0 cm s−1 and 7.6 cm s−1, in nearly reciprocating movement in the direction of 34.5°, 63.1°, and 75.2° clockwise from due north. The internal tidal currents in the Jailolo Strait contributing to about 50% of the total kinetic energy are found to be dominated by the low baroclinic modes, with M2 tide as the most dominant tidal constituent. High-frequency internal tides of D3 and D4 are observed, with baroclinic structure similar to that of M2 tides, and are suggested to be stimulated by nonlinear processes. The complicated vertical structure of tidal currents in the Jailolo Strait is disclosed for the first time in history. Its potential impact on vertical turbulent mixing suggests its importance in global ocean circulation and climate.

Vertical structure of tidal currents in the Xuliujing Section of Changjiang River Estuary

Vertical structure of tidal currents in the Xuliujing Section of Changjiang River Estuary

Underway velocity measurements in the Alderney Race: towards a three-dimensional representation of tidal motions.

The Alderney Race, located northwest of the Cotentin Peninsula (France), is a site with high tidal-stream energy potential. Circulation through the Alderney Race is complex, with current speed exceeding 3 m s-1 at neap tide. Towed acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements and static point velocity measurements were performed in July 2018 focusing on assessment of circulation and vertical structure of tidal currents. Transect surveys revealed peculiar features of local dynamics such as change in location of the tidal jet on ebb and flood flow. The spatial expanse of the tidal jet was quantified and regions with largely sheared or nearly homogeneous velocity distributions were identified on the cross-sections. Velocity profiles acquired along the cross-sections were accurately characterized using a power law. The spatial variability of the power-law exponent α was found to be large and correlated with the tidal conditions. The largest variation in profile shape was observed in the northern sector and assumed to be generated by the current interaction with a bathymetric constriction. The velocity profiles were found to vary from highly sheared on flood flow to nearly homogeneous on ebb flow, with corresponding range of power-law exponent α variation from 6 to 14. In the southern sector, over a relatively smooth bathymetry, the velocity profile shape was accurately approximated using the 1/7 power law with a range of variation of α from 6.5 to 8, with respect to the tidal conditions. To our knowledge, this is the largest field survey done using towed ADCP and the results could represent a significant advance in tidal site characterization and provide advanced information to turbine developers. This article is part of the theme issue 'New insights on tidal dynamics and tidal energy harvesting in the Alderney Race'.

Storm-induced water dynamics and thermohaline structure at the tidewater Flade Isblink Glacier outlet to the Wandel Sea (NE Greenland)

Abstract. In April 2015, an ice-tethered conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) profiler and a down-looking acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) were deployed from the landfast ice near the tidewater glacier terminus of the Flade Isblink Glacier in the Wandel Sea, NE Greenland. The 3-week time series showed that water dynamics and the thermohaline structure were modified considerably during a storm event on 22–24 April, when northerly winds exceeded 15 m s−1. The storm initiated downwelling-like water dynamics characterized by on-shore water transport in the surface (0–40 m) layer and compensating offshore flow at intermediate depths. After the storm, currents reversed in both layers, and the relaxation phase of downwelling lasted ∼ 4 days. Although current velocities did not exceed 5 cm s−1, the enhanced circulation during the storm caused cold turbid intrusions at 75–95 m depth, which are likely attributable to subglacial water from the Flade Isblink Ice Cap. It was also found that the semidiurnal periodicities in the temperature and salinity time series were associated with the lunar semidiurnal tidal flow. The vertical structure of tidal currents corresponded to the first baroclinic mode of the internal tide with a velocity minimum at ∼ 40 m. The tidal ellipses rotate in opposite directions above and below this depth and cause a divergence of tidal flow, which was observed to induce semidiurnal internal waves of about 3 m height at the front of the glacier terminus. Our findings provide evidence that shelf–basin interaction and tidal forcing can potentially modify coastal Wandel Sea waters even though they are isolated from the atmosphere by landfast sea ice almost year-round. The northerly storms over the continental slope cause an enhanced circulation facilitating a release of cold and turbid subglacial water to the shelf. The tidal flow may contribute to the removal of such water from the glacial terminus.

Observations of the Vertical Structure of Tidal Currents in Two Inlets

Lippmann, T. C., J. Irish, and Hunt, J., 2013. Observations of the vertical structure of tidal currents in two inlets. In: Conley, D.C., Masselink, G., Russell, P.E. and O’Hare, T.J. (eds.), Proceedings 12 th International Coastal Symposium (Plymouth, England), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 65, pp. 2029-2034, ISSN 0749-0208. Observations of the vertical structure of broad band tidal currents were obtained at two energetic inlets. Each experiment took place over a 4 week period, the first at Hampton Inlet in southeastern New Hampshire, USA, in the Fall of 2011, and the second at New River Inlet in southern North Carolina, USA, in the spring of 2012. The temporal variation and vertical structure of the currents were observed at each site with 600 kHz and 1200 kHz RDI Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) deployed on low-profile bottom tripods in 7.5 and 12.5 m water depths near the entrance to Hampton Inlet, and in 8 and 9 m water depth within and outside New River Inlet, respectively. In addition, a Nortek Aquapro ADCP was mounted on a jetted pipe in about 2.5 m water depth on the flank of the each inlet channel. Flows within the Hampton/Seabrook Inlet were dominated by semi-diurnal tides ranging 2.5 - 4 m in elevation, with velocities exceeding 2.5 m/s. Flows within New River inlet were also semi-diurnal with tides ranging about 1 – 1.5 m in elevation and with velocities exceeding 1.5 m/s. Vertical variation in the flow structure at the dominant tidal frequency are examined as a function of location within and near the inlet. Outside the inlet, velocities vary strongly over the vertical, with a nearly linear decay from the surface to near the bottom. The coherence between the upper most velocity bin and the successively vertically separated bins drops off quickly with depth, with as much as 50% coherence decay over the water column. The phase relative to the uppermost velocity bin shifts over depth, with as much as 40 deg phase lag over the vertical, with bottom velocities leading the surface. Offshore, rotary coefficients indicate a stable ellipse orientation with rotational directions consistent over the vertical. At Hampton, the shallower ADCP, but still outside the inlet, shows a rotational structure that changes sign in the vertical indicating a sense of rotation at the bottom that is opposite to that at the surface. Within the inlet, the flow is more aligned with the channel, the decay in amplitude over the vertical is diminished, the coherence and phase structure is nearly uniform, and the rotary coefficients indicate no sense of rotation in the flow. The observations are qualitatively consistent with behavior described by Prandle (1982) for shallow water tidal flows.

Vertical structure of the M2 tidal current in the Yellow Sea

The vertical structure of the M2 tidal current in the Yellow Sea is analyzed from data acquired using an acoustic Doppler current profiler. The observed vertical profiles of the M2 tidal current are decomposed into two rotating components of counter-clockwise and clockwise, and restructured using a simple one-point model with a constant vertical eddy viscosity. The analyzed results show that the internal fictional effect dominates the vertical structure of the tidal current in the bottom boundary layer. In the Yellow Sea, the effect of the bottom friction reduces the current speed by about 20–40% and induces the bottom phase advance by about 15–50 minutes. In the shallower coastal regions, the effects of bottom topography are more prominent on the vertical structure of tidal currents. The vertical profile of the tidal current in summer, when the water column is strongly stratified, is disturbed near the pycnocline layer. The stratification significantly influences the vertical shear and distinct seasonal variation of the tidal current.

Vertical structure of tidal currents over Espartel and Camarinal sills, Strait of Gibraltar

ADCP velocity data collected in the two main sills of the Strait of Gibraltar (Camarinal and Espartel sills) have been used for analysing the vertical structure of main tidal constituents (M 2, S 2, O 1 and K 1) currents in this area. Two different periods (winter and summer) were considered in correspondence to seasonal variations in density profiles. Amplitudes and phases of the various tidal constituents have been compared for both periods and locations. Barotropic and baroclinic parts of the tidal currents have been extracted using the dynamical mode decomposition technique and the relative importance of each mode has been established in terms on the energy associated. In Espartel sill, the barotropic mode is more energetic in wintertime for all constituents except for K 1. Baroclinic modes have smaller contribution to total energy. Second and third baroclinic modes tend to be more energetic than the first one, especially during winter, this indicating a relatively complex vertical structure of the tidal currents. Over Camarinal sill, barotropic mode accounts for more than 90% of total energy in all the tidal constituents, the highest value (97%) observed for M 2.

Tidal currents in the St. Lawrence Island region

Vertical and spatial variability of tidal currents in the northern part of the Bering Sea near St. Lawrence Island were examined using observations made at 17 new and historical current meter mooring locations. The semidiurnal currents dominate over the diurnal currents. Semidiurnal currents exhibit a seasonal modulation with currents being somewhat stronger during the summer and fall when the density structure displays two‐layer stratification. Diurnal currents exhibit a weak semiannual modulation. Examination of the vertical structure of tidal currents shows that maximum semidiurnal currents are observed in the upper or middle layers down to a depth of about 20 m, and below this depth the energy of the semidiurnal currents decreases rapidly. However, the energy of diurnal band currents remains almost constant with depth, decreasing only in close proximity to the bottom. Rotary spectral analysis applied to the records shows further differences: the M2 clockwise (CW) component of rotation dominates in the upper and middle water column but the counterclockwise component (CCW) dominates near the bottom. Interpretation of these observed results points to the different bottom boundary layers (BBL) for the CW and CCW motions in addition to the role of density stratification in organizing the BBL. We compare results of a vertically averaged two‐dimensional model to the observationally derived tidal ellipse parameters and show that the barotropic formulation provides a first‐order description of the tidal regime within the domain.

Saline intrusion in partially mixed estuaries

Restricting interest to partially mixed estuaries, earlier studies of tidally averaged linearised theories relating to the vertical structure of salinity and velocities (accompanying saline intrusion) are extended to take account of tidal straining and associated convective overturning. The applicability of these theories is evaluated by reference to a ‘single-point’ numerical model in which the time-varying cycle of depth-averaged tidal current amplitude, Û, and a (temporally and vertically) constant saline gradient, S x , are specified. This model highlights the importance of convective overturning in counteracting unstable density structures introduced by tidal straining. By omitting overturning in the model, results agree closely with linearised theoretical derivations. However, incorporating overturning substantially increases tidally averaged surface-to-bed differences for both residual currents, δ u, and salinity, δ s. The vertical structure of tidal currents is a maximum, and hence the effect of tidal straining, in shallow macro-tidal estuaries. The propagation of tidal elevations and currents remains insensitive to saline intrusion in partially mixed estuaries. The applicability of the model was evaluated by simulation of recent measurements by Rippeth et al. (J. Phys. Oceanogr. 31 (2001) 2458). To explore the generality of estuarine responses, the model was run for a wide range of values of saline intrusion lengths, L, and water depths, D. Additional sensitivity analyses were made for changes in Û and bed stress coefficient, k. Response frameworks are shown for: δ u, δ s, potential energy anomaly φ, work done by bed friction and internal shear, rates and efficiency of saline mixing and ratios of relative mixing by diffusion to overturning. By equating the rate of mixing associated with vertical diffusion with river flow, Q, an expression for saline intrusion length L∝D 2/k U ̂ U o ( U o river flow velocity) was derived. This formulation agrees with an earlier derivation based on flume tests and showed reasonable agreement with observed values in six estuaries (eight cases). However, in funnel-shaped estuaries, axial migration of the intrusion introduces major variations in D, Û and U o, thereby complicating the application of the above expression for L. Moreover, the time lag involved in the adjustment of L to changes in Û and Q may explain much of the complexity encountered in the observations.

Vertical structure of tidal currents over the Camarinal Sill at the Strait of Gibraltar

An acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) is used to estimate the vertical structure of currents at the Camarinal Sill at the Strait of Gibraltar. The most important tidal components, namely, M2, S2, O1, K1, M4, M3, Msf and Mm are examined. The semidiurnal tides are the most energetic, with along‐strait speeds of up to 120 cm s−1 for M2 and 48 cm s−1 for S2. The diurnal tides have along‐strait speeds of 15–35 cm s−1. M4 increases from 4 cm s−1 in the upper layer to ∼15 cm s−1 below 220 m. The fortnightly component Msf reaches speeds in excess of 30 cm s−1 at the upper 120 m. The vertical structure of the tidal signal is complicated, differs between semidiurnal and diurnal tides, and varies between spring and neap tides. Plausible assumptions about the density profile and the bottom friction yield tidal components similar to those observed. The effects of friction are described by the use of an analytical constant eddy viscosity model and the effects of stratification by estimating the internal modes at each tidal frequency. The major part of the tidal signal is barotropic, with the internal tide modes and the frictional effects contributing <20 cm s−1 for the semidiurnal tides. Nevertheless, individual modes reach 50 cm s−1. The internal tides for the diurnal components are <5 cm s−1, with individual modes reaching 8 cm s−1. The vertical profile of Msf can be explained by the use of internal modes reaching amplitudes of 40 cm s−1. The fitting of the internal wave modes to the vertical profiles also explains the observed phase change with depth of the semimajor axis. The comparison with pressure difference across the strait is consistent with previous studies. This report is the first on the ADCP time series on the Camarinal Sill.

Detiding Three-Dimensional Velocity Survey Data in Coastal Waters*

A three-dimensional data interpolation technique is proposed that efficiently removes tidal currents from spatial velocity surveys. The least squares method extends prior two-dimensional detiding methods to three spatial dimensions using biharmonic splines. Biharmonic splines are fitted to velocity data from acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) surveys, moorings, and ocean surface current radar (OSCR). The data are used to predict diurnal and semidiurnal tidal currents on the inner shelf off New Jersey that vary between 1 and 15 cm s−1 at spatial scales of about 20 km. The (tidal) signal to (subtidal) noise is thus O(1) in the study area. Although the main task of this study is to remove tidal variance from the ADCP survey data, an attempt is made to accurately“predict” tidal currents from the data. The latter task is more difficult. Both artificial data with known signal-to-noise properties and actual measurements indicate that the method estimates both diurnal and semidiurnal tidal currents to within about 3.5 cm s−1 rms, or 30% of the true tidal signals. While the biharmonic splines remove tidal currents successfully, the prediction of the vertical structure of tidal currents is only fair. Some experimentation guided by physical intuition and prior knowledge of the tidal fields is necessary in order to obtain an accurate and stable solution. While this ambiguity constitutes the main disadvantage of the method, its simple algebraic expression to predict tidal currents in space and time is its main advantage. Properly weighting velocity data from different sources, such as moorings, surface current radar, and ADCP surveys of different quality, improves the quality of the fit.

Modelling the Vertical Structure of Tidal Currents and Temperature of the North Sea

An array of one-dimensional models has been used to simulate the vertical structure of tidal currents and temperature of the North Sea with a 37 km (20 nautical mile) grid. The model, which is based on the Mellor and Yamada (1974) Level 2 turbulence closure scheme, includes meteorological fluxes at the surface and tidal stirring at the bottom. Depth-varying tidal currents were predicted using pressure forces derived from a depth-averaged tidal model. The model was driven using meteorological fluxes supplied by an atmospheric forecasting model and the results compared with CTD measurements collected during 1989.

Numerical Simulation of Tidal Currents by means of Multi-level Model

A multi-level simulation program was developed to compute the ocean current. Tidal currents of 12 hours period in Tokyo Bay were calculated and compared with observations. As a result, it was found that computed results of tidal ellipses, amplitude and phase lag of tidal elevation agree fairly well with observed results. The most striking characteristics feature of the multi-level model is to be able to clarify the vertical structure of tidal currents, i.e., the distribution of vertical velocity and the structure of vertical shear current. In the numerical simulation of ocean currents, a part of various parameters included in governing equations are usually determined empirically. In order to examine the influence of such parameters on computed results, a series of comparative simulations were carried out varying the numerical values of such parameters in a systematic manner. Furthermore, the effects of river inflow and seasonal wind direction on the tidal residual flow are clarified, in particular, the difference in tidal currents predicted by the simulation model with a different number of levels is discussed.

On the vertical structure of tidal currents in shallow water near the Changjiang River estuary

This research on the vertical structure of tidal current in shallow water near the Changjiang River estuary is based on a great deal of observation data of current obtained recently, and a simple mathematic model. The essential features of the structure are: (1) the maximum velocity decreases with depth, the shallower the water, the lower the velocity; (2) the orientation of maximum velocity continuously deviates from the surface to the bottom to the left at the western side of the mouth bar and to the right at the eastern side; (3) the time of maximum velocity leads steadily with depth; (4) in general, tidal currents rotate clockwise, the nearer the sea-bed, the narrower the ellipse of the tidal current; (5) the ratioW1/W2 varies non-linearly with depth, and is smaller in the middle layer than at the surface and bottom. Bottom friction is the main cause of the vertical structure.

On the vertical structure of tidal currents in a homogeneous sea

The vertical variation of tidal currents caused by friction at the sea-bed is investigated in both qualitative and quantitative ways with the Coriolis force being taken into account. The simple model with the assumption of constant eddy viscosity is employed to study the effects of friction on the vertical structure of tidal currents. The model explains these effects in vertical change of the maximum velocity, the ellipticity (the ratio of the minor to the major axis) of current ellipse, the time and the direction of the maximum velocity, and the ratio of diurnal current to semidiurnal current. To reach a quantitative agreement with the data observed by Bowden & Fairbairn in the Irish Sea, the mixing length theory is applied to numerical calculation of the vertical distribution of tidal currents with a finite difference scheme. A fair agreement with the observations is obtained in the calculation. The results show the following features: (1) the vertical profile of amplitude of the main component for the current is almost logarithmic throughout the depth; (2) the corresponding profde for the shearing stress is almost linear with depth; (3) the maximum stress lags the maximum velocity with the delay increasing with elevation; (4) the eddy viscosity coefficient has its maximum around the mid-depth; and (5) the vertically averaged viscosity lags the velocity magnitude. The dependence of the quadratic resistance coefficient and the coefficient k defined by Bowden's formulav̄=κhū(h— depth, v̄ and ū— depth-averaged eddy viscosity and velocity) on the roughness length is given for a steady flow in a non-rotating system. The numerical solution shows that these relations can be approximately applied to the tidal currents in shallow waters.

The vertical structure of tidal currents and other oscillatory flows

The vertical structure of tidal currents and other oscillatory flows

The vertical structure of tidal currents

Abstract The accuracy to which the vertical structure of tidal currents can be predicted is examined. Theoretical models for current structure are developed employing (a) a constant eddy viscosity E = e and (b) an eddy viscosity varying linearly with height above the sea bed z; E(z)=βz. By requiring these models to satisfy the commonly accepted quadratic friction law, the condition e>½k is deduced where k is the bed friction coefficient, W a representative velocity and D the depth. The sense of rotation of a current ellipse is shown to be related to the configuration of co-tidal charts. The vertical structure of the current ellipse is illustrated from the theoretical models and the sensitivity of this structure is examined for the following variables: (a) eddy viscosity e or βz, (b) the bed friction parameter kW, (c) rotation of the prescribed pressure gradients and (d) tidal period. While reasonable agreement between observed and calculated current profiles may often be reported, precise agreement is sho...

The vertical structure of tidal currents and other oscillatory flows

Assuming a linearized equation of motion in the absence of stratification, the vertical structure of tidal currents is shown to be a function of two dimensionless parameters. The first of these, Y = (ω/E)1/2D, is analogous to an Ekman height with ω the tidal frequency, D the depth, and E the (constant) vertical eddy viscosity. The second parameter, J = (ωE)1/2[(8/3π)kŪ], introduces the effect of a quadratic bed stress through the bed-stress coefficient k and the depth-averaged velocityÜ. From these it is possible to illustrate the full range of possible vertical structure and to understand the basic scaling laws involved. By assuming E =aU¯D good agreement between theory and observation was found. With this assumption vertical structure reduces to a function of just one parameter, namely kS, where S =Ū2π/Dω is the Strouhal number. By resolving tidal current ellipses into clockwise and anticlockwise rotating components the original theory developed for recti-linear flow can be applied to fully three-dimensional flow. In this way, many of the observed characteristics of current structure in shallow seas may be explained.