Huge internal waves in the vicinity of the Spitsbergen Island (Barents Sea)

• Published in: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
• Main Authors: O. E. Kurkina, T. G. Talipova
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2011
• Subjects: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering; TD1-1066; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation; G; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Geology; QE1-996.5; Barents Sea; Svalbard; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-11-981-2011; https://doaj.org/article/af271706be0b4842b12458ea137e7f30

The generation of huge amplitude internal waves by the barotropic tide in the Barents Sea at high latitudes is examined using the numerical model of the Euler 2-D equations for incompressible stratified fluid. The area considered is located between the Spitsbergen (Svalbard) Island and the Franz-Victoria Trough with a cross-section of 350 km length. There are two underwater hills about 100–150 m high on the background depth of about 300 m. It is shown that intensive nonlinear internal waves with amplitudes up to 50 m and lengths of about 6–12 km are generated in this zone. The total height of such waves is huge and they must be considered as a significant factor of the environment in this basin.