On the importance of non-hydrostatic processes in determining tidally induced mixing in sill regions

The importance of using a non-hydrostatic model to compute tidally induced mixing and flow in the region of a sill is examined using idealized topography representing the sill at the entrance to Loch Etive. This site is chosen since detailed measurements were recently made there. Calculations are performed with and without the inclusion of non-hydrostatic dynamics using a vertical slice model for a range of sill widths corresponding to typical sill regions. Initial non-hydrostatic calculations showed that the model could reproduce the observed flow characteristics in the region. However, when calculations were performed using the model in hydrostatic form, the significant artificial convective mixing that occurred in order to remove density inversions led to excessively high vertical mixing. This influenced the computed temperature field and the intensity of the current jet that separated from the sill on its lee side. In addition it affected the magnitude and spatial characteristics of the lee waves generated on the lee side of the sill. Calculations with a range of sill widths, showed that as the sill width decreased the difference between the solution computed with the non-hydrostatic and hydrostatic model increased.     

On the influence of stratification and tidal forcing upon mixing in sill regions

A cross-sectional non-hydrostatic model with idealized topography was used to examine the processes influencing tidal mixing in the region of sills. Initial calculations with appropriate parameters for the sill at the entrance to Loch Etive showed that the model could reproduce the main features of the observed mixing in the region. In particular, the hydraulic jump in the sill region was reproduced, as was an intense mid-water jet that was observed to separate from the lee side of the sill. Shear instabilities associated with the jet appeared to be a source of mixing within the thermocline. In addition, internal lee waves were generated on the lee side of the sill, with the observed amplification because of trapping during the flood stage. Their magnitude and hence the mixing increased with increasing Froude number (F _r). In the case of vertically varying buoyancy frequency, its value near the sill top determined the F _r number, with its value below influencing internal waves magnitude at depth. At high F _r values particularly with strong currents, short waves and overturning occurred.     

利用天宫一号和Landsat7对地观测数据的森林变化检测

由于自然演替和一些干扰因素的影响,森林覆盖处在不断的变化中.结合云南省西双版纳地区的天宫一号高光谱数据以及Landsat影像,研究了热带森林覆盖制图与变化检测的自动化识别方法.首先分析了每景影像中红光波段的光谱属性,依据直方图提取出纯净森林像元,然后计算影像中各像元与纯净森林像元之间的光谱相似性,从而得到森林指数并以此为依据提取出每景影像对应的森林覆盖图,将多期的森林覆盖专题图进行叠加分析即可得到森林变化专题图.结果表明:(1)使用天宫一号高光谱影像可以进行森林覆盖自动化提取,生成的森林覆盖图合理地反映了森林分布状况;(2)与多期遥感影像结合进行森林变化信息提取,提取结果很好地体现了森林减少和森林恢复情况,对新恢复的未郁闭森林也可以进行有效检测.     

Influence of sea surface wind wave turbulence upon wind-induced circulation, tide–surge interaction and bed stress

A three-dimensional finite volume unstructured mesh model of the west coast of Britain, with high resolution in the coastal regions, is used to investigate the role of wind wave turbulence and wind and tide forced currents in producing maximum bed stress in the eastern Irish Sea. The spatial distribution of the maximum bed stress, which is important in sediment transport problems, is determined, together with how it is modified by the direction of wind forced currents, tide–surge interaction and a surface source of wind wave turbulence associated with wave breaking. Initial calculations show that to first order the distribution of maximum bed stress is determined by the tide. However, since maximum sediment transport occurs at times of episodic events, such as storm surges, their effects upon maximum bed stresses are examined for the case of strong northerly, southerly and westerly wind forcing. Calculations show that due to tide–surge interaction both the tidal distribution and the surge are modified by non-linear effects. Consequently, the magnitude and spatial distribution of maximum bed stress during major wind events depends upon wind direction. In addition calculations show that a surface source of turbulence due to wind wave breaking in shallow water can influence the maximum bed stress. In turn, this influences the wind forced flow and hence the movement of suspended sediment. Calculations of the spatial variability of maximum bed stress indicate the level of measurements required for model validation.     

The effects of large and small-scale topography upon internal waves and implications for tidally induced mixing in sill regions

A free surface non-hydrostatic model in a cross-sectional form, namely, two-dimensional, in the vertical is used to examine the role of larger-scale topography, namely, sill width, and smaller scale topography, namely, ripples on the sill upon internal wave generation and mixing in sill regions. The present work is set in the context of earlier work and the wider literature in order to emphasise the problems of simulating mixing in hydrographic models. Highlights from previous calculations and references to the literature for detail, together with new results presented here with smooth and “ripple” topography, are used to show that an idealised cross-sectional model can reproduce the dominant features found in observations at the Loch Etive sill. Calculations show that on both the short and long time scales, the presence of small-scale “ripple” topography influence the mixing and associated Richardson number distribution in the sill region. Subsequent calculations in which the position and form of the small-scale sill topography is varied show for the first time that it is the small-scale topography near the sill crest that is particularly important in enhancing mid-water mixing on the lee side of the sill. Both short-term and longer-term calculations with a reduced sill width and associated time series show that as the sill width is reduced, the non-linear response of the system increases. In addition, Richardson number plots show that the region of critical Richardson number, and hence enhanced mixing, increases with time and a reduction in sill width. Calculations in which buoyancy frequency N varies through the vertical show that buoyancy frequency close to the top of the sill is primarily controlling mixing rather than its mean value. Hence, a Froude number based on sill depth and local N is the critical parameter rather than one based on total depth and mean N.     

A model study of spin-down and circulation in a cold water dome

A three-dimensional prognostic hydrodynamic model in cross sectional form is used to examine the influence of bottom friction, mixing and topography upon the spin-down and steady-state circulation in a cold water bottom-dome. Parameters characteristic of the Irish Sea or Yellow Sea cold water domes are used. In all calculations, motion is induced by specifying an initial temperature distribution characteristic of the dome, and an associated along frontal flow. The spin-down of the dome is found to be influenced by the coefficient of bottom friction, with a typical time scale of order 10 days, and in general to be independent of the chosen initial vertical profile of along frontal flow. However, in the case in which the along frontal flow is such that the near bed velocity is zero, then bottom stress is also zero, and there is no appreciable spin-down. Calculations showed that the formulation of viscosity and diffusivity had a greater effect upon the steady-state circulation than topography, suggesting that background mixing of tidal origin is important. The lack of topographic influence was due mainly to the formulation of the initial conditions which were taken to be independent of topography. The steady-state circulation was characterized by a cyclonic flow in the surface region, with an anti-cyclonic current near the bed, where frictional effects produced a bottom Ekman layer and an across frontal flow. This gave rise to vertical circulation cells in the frontal region of the dome with prevailing downwelling motion inside the dome. A detailed analysis of the dynamic balance of the various terms in the hydrodynamic equations yielded insight into the processes controlling the steady-state circulation in cold water domes. Responsible Editor: Phil Dyke     

Features of internal tides observed near the shelf break in the northern South China Sea

Ocean Dynamics - Features of internal tides in the northern South China Sea are investigated using measurements of two moorings at 506 m (MR1) and 260 m (MR2) working between...     

A model study of tidal distributions in the Celtic and Irish Sea regions determined with finite volume and finite element models

An unstructured mesh tidal model of the west coast of Britain, covering the Celtic Sea and Irish Sea is used to compare tidal distributions computed with finite element (FE) and finite volume (FV) models. Both models cover an identical region, use the same mesh, and have topography and tidal boundary forcing from a finite difference model that can reproduce the tides in the region. By this means, solutions from both models can be compared without any bias towards one model or another. Two-dimensional calculations show that for a given friction coefficient, there is more damping in the FV model than the FE model. As bottom friction coefficient is reduced, the two models show comparable changes in tidal distributions. In terms of mesh resolution, calculations show that for the M₂ tide, the mesh is sufficiently fine to yield an accurate solution over the whole domain. However, in terms of higher harmonics of the tide, in particular the M₆ component, its small-scale variability in near-shore regions which is comparable to the mesh of the model, suggests that the mesh resolution is insufficient in the near-coastal regions. Even with a finer mesh in these areas, without detailed bottom topography and a spatial varying friction depending on bed types and bed forms, which is not available, model skill would probably not be improved. In addition in the near-shore region, as shown in the literature, the solution is sensitive to the form of the wetting/drying algorithm used in the model. Calculations with a 3D version of the FV model show that for a given value of k, damping is reduced compared to the 2D version due to the differences in bed stress formulation, with the 3D model yielding an accurate tidal distribution over the region.     

深圳近海风暴潮影响因素分析

风暴潮可能给沿海城市造成巨大破坏, 而深圳位于易受台风影响的南海北部沿岸, 经济和人口总量巨大, 但有关深圳近海风暴潮的研究工作却十分匮乏。本文基于区域海洋模式系统(regional ocean model system, ROMS)建立了一个以深圳近海为中心的三层嵌套模型, 用于研究深圳近海台风所致风暴潮的影响因素。首先对2018年台风“山竹”过境深圳导致的风暴潮进行模拟, 模拟结果与观测结果较为一致。在此基础上, 进行一系列参数调整试验, 研究台风登陆地点、登陆角度、台风尺度、台风强度以及移动速度的改变对风暴潮及其分布的影响。结果表明, 在深圳西边登陆的台风, 比在深圳东边登陆的台风产生的最大增水高1.5m左右。由东往西移动并登陆深圳的台风, 比由南向北移动的台风产生的最大增水高1.0m左右。台风最大风速半径增加15%, 最大增水上升0.2m左右。台风强度增强15%, 最大增水上升0.4m左右。台风移动速度总体上对风暴潮影响不大, 但不同登陆地点存在明显差异。当台风在深圳西边或者东边登陆时, 台风移动速度增加30%, 深圳沿海各海湾的最大增水反而上升0.2~0.6m。当台风从深圳中部登陆时, 台风移动速度增加30%, 珠江口的最大增水降低0.1m左右, 大鹏湾和大亚湾的最大增水却相反地上升0.2m左右, 不同海湾对台风移动速度呈现不同的变化特征, 与各海湾水体重新分布到稳定状态时间和台风作用时间有关。     

Non-hydrostatic and non-linear contributions to the internal wave energy flux in sill regions

A three-dimensional non-linear, non-hydrostatic model in cross-sectional form is used to determine the factors influencing the relative importance of the linear, non-hydrostatic and non-linear contributions to the internal wave energy flux in sill regions due to tidal forcing. The importance of the free surface elevation term is also considered. Idealised topography representing the sill at the entrance to Loch Etive, the site of a recent measurement programme, is used. Calculations show that the non-linear terms in the energy flux become increasingly important as the sill Froude Number (F _s) increases and the sill aspect ratio is increased. The vertical profile of the stratification, in particular its value close to the sill crest where internal waves are generated, has a significant influence on unsteady lee wave and mixed tidal–lee wave generation and the non-linear contribution to the energy flux. Calculations show that as F _s increases, the energy flux due to the non-linear and non-hydrostatic terms increases more rapidly than the linear term. The importance of the non-linear terms in the energy flux also increases as the sill aspect ratio is increased. Increasing the buoyancy frequency reduces the contribution of the non-hydrostatic and non-linear terms to the total energy flux. Also, as the buoyancy frequency is increased, this reduces unsteady lee wave and mixed tidal–lee wave generation. In essence, these calculations show that the energy flux due to the non-hydrostatic and non-linear terms is appreciable in sill regions.