Patagonian shelf 3D tide and surge model

Abstract

The southwest Atlantic continental shelf, often referred to as the Patagonian shelf, is notable for the large amplification of the oceanic tides towards the coast. Here, strong currents caused by pressure gradients across headlands generate horizontal and vertical shear when the tide reverses, and also regions of high energy dissipation by bottom friction where enhanced vertical mixing produce fronts. Other major features in the region are the Falkland-Malvinas Current (FMC) and wind-driven currents and surges, which are induced by strong westerly winds and the frequent passage of low pressure centers. The model is forced at the open boundary by the combination of eight major tidal constituents (M2, S2, K2, N2, K1, O1, P1, and Q1), and the mean sea surface elevation from the Fine Resolution Antarctic Model (FRAM) is added to reproduce the FMC. Wind-driven currents and surges are simulated by specifying wind stresses at 6-h intervals, derived from a set of re-analysed data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).