Effects of an along-shelf current on the generation of internal tides near the critical latitude

The effects of along-shelf barotropic geostrophic currents on internal wave generation by the $K_1$ tide interacting with a shelf at near-critical latitudes are investigated. The horizontal shear of the background current results in a spatially varying effective Coriolis frequency which modifies the slope criticality and potentially creates blocking regions where freely propagating internal tides cannot exist. This paper is focused on the barotropic to baroclinic energy conversion rate, which is affected by a combination of three factors: slope criticality, size and location of the blocking region where the conversion rate is extremely small and the internal tide (IT) beam patterns. All of these are sensitive to the current parameters. In our parameter space, the current can increase the conversion rate up to 10 times.

Disintegration of the K1 internal tide in the South China Sea due to parametric subharmonic instability

<p>The disintegration of the equatorward-propagating K<sub>1</sub> internal tide in the South China Sea (SCS) by parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) at its critical latitude of 14.52ºN is investigated numerically. The multiple-source generation and long-range propagation of K<sub>1</sub> internal tides are successfully reproduced. Using equilibrium analysis, the internal wave field near the critical latitude is found to experience two quasi-steady states, between which the subharmonic waves develop constantly. The simulated subharmonic waves agree well with classic PSI theoretical prediction. The PSI-induced near-inertial waves are of half the K<sub>1</sub> frequency and dominantly high modes, the vertical scales ranging from 50 to 180 m in the upper ocean. From an energy perspective, PSI mainly occurs in the critical latitudinal zone from 13–15ºN. In this zone, the incident internal tide loses ~14% energy in the mature state of PSI. PSI triggers a mixing elevation of O(10<sup>-5</sup>–10<sup>-4</sup> m<sup>2</sup>/s) in the upper ocean at the critical latitude, which is several times larger than the background value. The contribution of PSI to the internal tide energy loss and associated enhanced mixing may differ regionally and is closely dependent on the intensity and duration of background internal tide. The results elucidate the far-field dissipation mechanism by PSI in connecting interior mixing with remotely generated K<sub>1</sub> internal tides in the Luzon Strait.</p>

Disintegration of the K1 Internal Tide in the South China Sea due to Parametric Subharmonic Instability

The disintegration of the equatorward-propagating K1 internal tide in the South China Sea (SCS) by parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) at its critical latitude of 14.52°N is investigated numerically. The multiple-source generation and long-range propagation of K1 internal tides are successfully reproduced. Using equilibrium analysis, the internal wave field near the critical latitude is found to experience two quasi-steady states, between which the subharmonic waves develop constantly. The simulated subharmonic waves agree well with classic PSI theoretical prediction. The PSI-induced near-inertial waves are of half the K1 frequency and dominantly high modes, the vertical scales ranging from 50 to 180 m in the upper ocean. From an energy perspective, PSI mainly occurs in the critical latitudinal zone from 13° to 15°N. In this zone, the incident internal tide loses ~14% energy in the mature state of PSI. PSI triggers a mixing elevation of O(10−5–10−4) m2 s−1 in the upper ocean at the critical latitude, which is several times larger than the background value. The contribution of PSI to the internal tide energy loss and associated enhanced mixing may differ regionally and is closely dependent on the intensity and duration of background internal tide. The results elucidate the far-field dissipation mechanism by PSI in connecting interior mixing with remotely generated K1 internal tides in the Luzon Strait.

Latitudinal Variation and Nonlinear Behavior of Internal Tides in the East China Sea

<p>We present four sets of concurrent ADCP data obtained from the East China Sea shelf, and it suggests that near-inertial waves induced by parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) associated with harmonic transfer beyond diurnal critical latitude (O<sub>1</sub>:27.6°, K<sub>1</sub>:30°). Two type different nonlinear behavior (harmonic transfer and subharmonic transfer) occur varying with the latitude on different location. The velocity data indicated a transfer of diurnal internal tidal energy poleward of the diurnal critical latitude. Kinetic energy and shear spectra analysis at these moorings reveals that the prominent peaks enhance and appear at not only at the even order of diurnal tide such as semidiurnal band, 4cpd, 6cpd and even 8cpd, but also some unfamiliar odd harmonics 3cpd and 5cpd. Furthermore, additional energy is converted to higher mode locally through continuum internal wave spectrum. Besides the harmonic transfer, on the critical latitude for D<sub>2</sub>/2 wave(28.9°), D<sub>1</sub> wave is extracted from a D<sub>2</sub> tidal driven model output current. PSI conversion of semidiurnal internal tidal energy was confirmed by spectra analysis and bi-spectra, because of the distinguish of M<sub>2</sub>/2 separated from the diurnal tidal (O<sub>1</sub>, K<sub>1</sub>).</p>

Overtransmission of Rossby Waves at a Lower-Layer Critical Latitude in the Two-Layer Model

Rossby waves, propagating from the midlatitudes toward the tropics, are typically absorbed by critical latitudes (CLs) in the upper troposphere. However, these waves typically encounter CLs in the lower troposphere first. We study a two-layer linear scattering problem to examine the effects of lower CLs on these waves. We begin with a review of the simpler barotropic case to orient the reader. We then progress to the baroclinic case using a two-layer quasigeostrophic model in which there is vertical shear in the mean flow on which the waves propagate, and in which the incident wave is assumed to be an external-mode Rossby wave. We use linearized equations and add small damping to remove the critical-latitude singularities. We consider cases in which either there is only one CL, in the lower layer, or there are CLs in both layers, with the lower-layer CL encountered first. If there is only a CL in the lower layer, the wave’s response depends on the sign of the mean potential vorticity gradient at this lower-layer CL: if the PV gradient is positive, then the CL partially absorbs the wave, as in the barotropic case, while for a negative PV gradient, the CL is a wave emitter, and can potentially produce overreflection and/or overtransmission. Our numerical results indicate that overtransmission is by far the dominant response in these cases. When an upper-layer absorbing CL is encountered, following the lower-layer encounter, one can still see the signature of overtransmission at the lower-layer CL.

Dynamical Aquaplanet Experiments with Uniform Thermal Forcing: System Dynamics and Implications for Tropical Cyclone Genesis and Size

Existing hypotheses for the dynamical dependence of tropical cyclone genesis and size on latitude depend principally on the Coriolis parameter f. These hypotheses are tested via dynamical aquaplanet experiments with uniform thermal forcing in which planetary rotation rate and planetary radius are varied relative to Earth values; the control simulation is also compared to a present-day Earth simulation. Storm genesis rate collapses to a quasi-universal dependence on f that attains its maximum at the critical latitude, where the inverse-f scale and Rhines scale are equal. Minimum genesis distance from the equator is set by the equatorial Rhines (or deformation) scale and not by a minimum value of f. Outer storm size qualitatively follows the smaller of the two length scales, including a slow increase with latitude equatorward of 45° in the control simulation, similar to the Earth simulation. The latitude of peak size scales with the critical latitude for varying planetary radius but not rotation rate, possibly because of the dependence of genesis specifically on f. The latitudes of peak size and peak packing density scale closely together. Results suggest that temporal effects and interstorm interaction may be significant for size dynamics. More generally, the critical latitude separates two regimes: 1) a mixed wave–cyclone equatorial belt, where wave effects are strong and the Rhines scale likely limits storm size, and 2) a cyclone-filled polar cap, where wave effects are weak and cyclones persist. The large-planet limit predicts a world nearly covered with long-lived storms, equivalent to the f plane. Overall, spherical geometry is likely important for understanding tropical cyclone genesis and size on Earthlike planets.

Tidal Conversion and Dissipation at Steep Topography in a Channel Poleward of the Critical Latitude

In high-latitude fjords and channels in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, walls support radiating internal tides as Kelvin waves. Such waves allow for significant barotropic to baroclinic tidal energy conversion, which is otherwise small or negligible when poleward of the critical latitude. This fundamentally three-dimensional system of a subinertial channel is investigated with a suite of numerical simulations in rectangular channels of varying width featuring idealized, isolated ridges. Even in channels as wide as 5 times the internal Rossby radius, tidal conversion can remain as high as predicted by an equivalent two-dimensional, nonrotating system. Curves of tidal conversion as a function of channel width, however, do not vary monotonically. Instead, they display peaks and nulls owing to interference between the Kelvin waves along the wall and similar waves that propagate along the ridge flanks, the wavelengths of which can be estimated from linear theory to guide prediction. Because the wavelengths are comparable to width scales of Arctic channels and fjords, the interference will play a first-order role in tidal energy budgets and may consequently influence the stability of glaciers, the ventilation of deep layers, the locations of sediment deposition, and the fate of freshwater exiting the Arctic Ocean.

Effect of Upper- and Lower-Level Baroclinicity on the Persistence of the Leading Mode of Midlatitude Jet Variability

The sensitivity of the variability of an eddy-driven jet to the upper- and lower-level baroclinicity of the mean state is analyzed using a three-level quasigeostrophic model on the sphere. The model is forced by a relaxation in temperature to a steady, zonally symmetric profile with varying latitude and intensity of the maximum baroclinicity. The leading EOF of the zonally and vertically averaged zonal wind is characterized by a meridional shift of the eddy-driven jet. While changes in the upper-level baroclinicity have no significant impact on the persistence of this leading EOF, an increase in lower-level baroclinicity leads to a reduced persistence. For small lower-level baroclinicity, the leading EOF follows a classical zonal index regime, for which the meridional excursions of the zonal wind anomalies are maintained by a strong positive eddy feedback. For strong lower-level baroclinicity, the jet enters a poleward-propagation regime, for which the eddy forcing continuously acts to push the jet poleward and prevents its maintenance at a fixed latitude. The enhanced poleward propagation when the lower-level baroclinicity increases is interpreted as resulting from the broader and weaker potential vorticity gradient that enables the waves to propagate equatorward and facilitates the poleward migration of the critical latitude. Finally, the decrease in the persistence of the leading EOF as the lower-level baroclinicity increases is shown not to result from the impact of changes in the mean climatological jet latitude.