Internal Tidal Hydrodynamics and Ambient

Characteristics of the Adriatic (ITHACA) Ministry of Science

Republic of Croatia

Large-amplitude internal waves observed

in the Adriatic
M. Orlić

Andrija Mohorovičić Geophysical Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb,

Croatia

Collaborators:
G. Beg Paklar, V. Dadić, N. Leder, H. Mihanović, M. Pasarić, and Z. Pasarić
 Experiment (February – September 2006)

• ADCP measurements over 5+ months at 3 stations.

• Thermistor measurements over 6 months at 4-40 m depths at 3
stations.
• Shipboard CTD surveys
on four occasions
at 13 stations.
• Optical surveys on two
occasions at 3 stations.
• Permanent sea level/pressure
measurements at 3 stations.
• Routine meteorological
measurements.
ADCP and thermistor measurements
 Wind wavelets

S
K D
H
P

N O R M A L IZ E D W A V E L E T E N E R G Y
0 2 /2 0 0 6 0 3 /2 0 0 6 0 4 /2 0 0 6 0 5 /2 0 0 6 0 6 /2 0 0 6 0 7 /2 0 0 6 0 8 /2 0 0 6 0 9 /2 0 0 6
60
50 K O M IŽ A N E
P E R IO D (h )

40
30
1E+001
20
10 1E+000

60
K O M IŽ A N W 1 E -0 0 1
50
P E R IO D (h )

40 1 E -0 0 2
30
20 1 E -0 0 3
10
0 2 /2 0 0 6 0 3 /2 0 0 6 0 4 /2 0 0 6 0 5 /2 0 0 6 0 6 /2 0 0 6 0 7 /2 0 0 6 0 8 /2 0 0 6 0 9 /2 0 0 6
T IM E (m o n th s )
 Bottom pressure time series and wavelet

0 3 /2 0 0 6 0 4 /2 0 0 6 0 5 /2 0 0 6 0 6 /2 0 0 6 0 7 /2 0 0 6 0 8 /2 0 0 6
12660
P R E S S U R E IT H A C A 1
P R E S S U R E (m b a r)

12640

12620

12600

12580
N O R M A L IZ E D W A V E L E T

8
TT ==2 24
3 . 8 9h h
6
SPECTRUM

0
0 3 /2 0 0 6 0 4 /2 0 0 6 0 5 /2 0 0 6 0 6 /2 0 0 6 0 7 /2 0 0 6 0 8 /2 0 0 6
T IM E (m o n th s )
Spectra of detided currents
Spectra of
a)
temperature time series

b)

c)
Tidal and wind forcing vs. thermocline displacement (at 24 h)
The event of 14-19 July 2006
All observations taken between 14 and 19 July 2006
Reduced-gravity analytical model

u  x
y  fv  g ' 
t x  0 H
τ
v y
 fu 
t 0 H
τ
u 
x H  0
x t
τ
_______________________
 x  A sin(t ), y  B cos(t )
u ( x  0)  0
The episode of
14-19 July 2006 – forcing
The episode of 14-19 July 2006 – data vs. theory (1)
The episode of 14-19 July 2006 – data vs. theory (2)

24h? 12h! 8h? 6h? 4.8h?

Limitations of the straight-coast model

c  gH
R g  9.81ms  2
τ
  1.5 10 3
H  10  20m
c  0.38  0.54ms 1
L  2R  2    5200m
L
T   16.8  23.9h
c
Results of
numerical
modeling (24 h)
Results of
numerical
modeling (12 h)
The episode of 14-19 July 2006 – data vs. simulation
(19°C isotherm elevation, flat bottom /left/ & real topography /right/)
 Conclusions (1)

• Diurnal temperature oscillations were strong at one of the islands

(Lastovo) and the corresponding baroclinic current variability was largest
at a nearby ADCP station
• Diurnal signal in June 2006 was primarily related to internal tides
• In July 2006 diurnal signal was dominated by the periodic upwelling and
downwelling events
• The range of wind-driven thermocline variability surpassed 20 m
• The morning (afternoon) breeze corresponded to the thermocline
reaching the deepest (shallowest) point
• The excitation of the July 2006 events was near-resonant
• Lastovo, at which diurnal upwelling/downwelling was most pronounced,
may also be one of the points from which semidiurnal, terdiurnal etc.
inertia-gravity waves radiate away
 Conclusions (2)

• The internal waves may be important for primary production, generation

of turbulence, and climate feedbacks in the Adriatic coastal area
• Possible use of AUVs in the further study?