[A-OS16] Frontiers of Ocean Mixing Research

[AOS16-07] Tides and Tidal Mixing at the Shelf Break in the Timor Sea North of Australia

*Robin Robertson¹, Chen Zhao, Zhiyu Liu¹, Zhenhua Xu, Zhiyong Cao¹, Jiang Long¹ (1.Xiamen University)

Keywords:mixing, tides, spring/neap cycle

In order to characterize the tidal fields and mixing over the shelf and at the shelf break in the Timor Sea, three 51 hour time series of CTD/LADCP/VMP profiles were conducted. The shelf break and one of the shelf time series occurred during spring tide and the other shelf break time series occurred during neap tide. The time series alternated using the CTD/LADCP or VMP at two hour intervals, so a profile was collected at hourly intervals. Semidiurnal tides dominated all three time series with the hydrography changing with the tides due to tidal advection. There was also energy at 4 cpd. Intrusions of different water types occurred at various depths, indicating the generation of different water types nearby. Anomalies in temperature and salinity propagated deeper in the water column with time, indicating upward propagation of energy. Both tidal advection, intrusions, and the anomalies were stronger during spring tide. Surprisingly, mixing was just as strong during neap tides as spring tide.