Estimates of internal tide energy fluxes from topex/poseidon altimetry: Central North Pacific

Abstract

Energy fluxes for first-mode M2 internal tides are deduced throughout the central North Pacific Ocean from Topex/Poseidon satellite altimeter data. Temporally coherent internal tide signals in the altimetry, combined with climatological hydrographic data, determine the tidal displacements, pressures, and currents at depth, which yield power transmission rates. For a variety of reasons the deduced rates should be considered lower bounds. Internal tides are found to emanate from several large bathymetric structures, especially the Hawaiian Ridge, where the integrated flux amounts to about 6 gigawatts. Internal tides are generated at the Aleutian Trench near 172°W and propagate southwards nearly 2000 km.