Trapped tidal currents generate freely propagating internal waves at the Arctic continental slope.

ABSTRACT: Energetic tidal currents in the Arctic play an important role in local mixing processes, but they are primarily confined to the shelves and continental slopes due to topographic trapping north of their critical latitude. Recent studies employing idealized models have suggested that the emergence of higher harmonic tidal waves along these slopes could serve as a conduit for tidal energy transmission into the Arctic Basin. Here we provide observational support from an analysis of yearlong observations from three densely-instrumented oceanographic moorings spanning 30 km across the continental slope north of Svalbard ([Formula: see text]81.3[Formula: see text]N). Full-depth current records show strong barotropic diurnal tidal currents, dominated by the K[Formula: see text] constituent. These

SUBMITTER: Baumann TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10491755 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature