Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · 1995 · 232 citations · 18 references
Natural SciencesEarth SciencesOceanographyOcean ModelingPhysical OceanographyTidesEquilibrium TidesSemidiurnal TidesTidal ConstituentsTidal DynamicsTidal ForcingTidal ModelingEquilibrium Tide DissipationOcean Tide EquilibriumSemidiurnal Tide ConstituentsStrait Of GibraltarTidal Flow ModelingTidal StraitsTidal Wave PropagationTide Dynamics
The tidal propagation in the Mediterranean Sea is described through a high‑resolution, two‑dimensional hydrodynamic model forced by the equilibrium tide and the incoming tide at the Strait of Gibraltar. The study investigates the significance of the equilibrium tide and the forcing at the open boundary. The model incorporates the four dominant tidal constituents (M₂, S₂, K₁, O₁) and computes energy fluxes across major straits. The model reproduces observed tides at 63 coastal gauges, shows that Gibraltar inflow is crucial for Mediterranean tidal tuning, that omitting it doubles semidiurnal amplitudes in the north Aegean, and estimates 8.8 × 10⁸ W of bottom‑friction dissipation concentrated in the Gulf of Gabes.
The tidal propagation in the Mediterranean Sea is described through a high‐resolution, two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model forced by the equilibrium tide and the incoming tide at the Strait of Gibraltar. The four most significant constituents, M 2 , S 2 , K 1 , and O 1 , are included in the model. Good agreement with a set of 63 coastal gauges is achieved. The significance of the equilibrium tide and the forcing at the open boundary is investigated. The incoming wave from the Strait of Gibraltar is important in tuning the tides in the whole of the Mediterranean. For the north Aegean Sea the solution without the forcing at Gibraltar results in a doubling of the amplitudes of the semidiurnal tides. The estimated energy dissipation due to bottom friction is 8.8×10 8 W. The major area of dissipation is the Gulf of Gabes. Energy fluxes through the major straits are calculated.
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