Tides in the Sea of Okhotsk

Abstract

Eight major tidal constituents in the Sea of Okhotsk have been investigated using a numerical solution of tidal equations on a 5Ј space grid. The tides are dominated by the diurnal constituents. Diurnal tidal currents are enhanced in Shelikhov Bay and Penzhinskaya Guba, at Kashevarov Bank, in proximity to the Kuril Islands and at a few smaller locations. The major energy sink for diurnal tides (over 60% of the total energy) is Shelikhov Bay and Penzhinskaya Guba. The major portion of semidiurnal tide energy is dissipated in the northwestern region of the Sea of Okhotsk and in Shelikhov Bay and Penzhinskaya Guba. Nonlinear interactions of diurnal currents are investigated through K 1 and O 1 constituent behavior over Kashevarov Bank. These interactions generate residual circulation of the order of 10 cm s Ϫ1 , major oscillations at semidiurnal and fortnightly periods (13.66 days), and higher harmonics of basic tidal periods. The M 2 tidal current, caused by the nonlinear interaction of the diurnal constituents over Kashevarov Bank, constitutes approximately a half of the total M 2 tide current there. The fortnightly current, through nonlinear interactions, also influences basic diurnal tidal currents by inducing fortnightly variations in the amplitude of these currents.

Interaction of the Okhotsk Sea diurnal tides with the Kashevarov Bank polynya

“…Qualitatively, the pattern of the computed sea level amplitudes and phases (not shown) is similar to the distribution obtained from the ice-free two-dimensional [Kowalik and Polyakov, 1998] and three-dimensional models (KP). However, comparison with the summer results shows that the presence of ice reduces the K• and O1 tidal amplitudes at the top of the bank by ---5 and 2 cm, respectively, so that their maximum amplitudes become 67 and 48 cm.…”

Evidence of change in the sea of okhotsk: Implications for the north pacific

“…This is likely to play a central role in the mixing dynamics of the region, although only limited observations of tidal currents exist. Miller's estimate of tidal dissipation has been significantly reduced by the modelling work of Kowalik and Polyakov (1998). However, the latter still find the dissipation in the Sea of Okhotsk to be greater than the energy dissipated in the entire Arctic Ocean, so it remains very large.…”

Dense water production on the northern Okhotsk shelves: Comparison of ship‐based spring‐summer observations for 1996 and 1997 with satellite observations

“…Comparison of Figures 5g and 5h with Figures 5e and 5f shows that the cold saline water in Shelikhov Bay has almost disappeared by the time of the July-August survey. This suggests that the strong tidal mixing [Kowalik and Polyakov, 1998] and transport of warm water into the region by the West Kamchatka Current reduces the amount of dense bottom water, leaving only a small region with negative temperatures in Gizhiga Bay. In July-August 1997 (Figure 5g), the only regions with temperatures less than -1.5øC occur in a small lens at about 148øE and in a larger lens against the coast at 141 øE.…”