Propagation and amplification of tide at the Bransfield and Gerlache Straits, northwestern Antarctic Peninsula

• Main Authors: Dragani,Walter C., Drabble,Michael R., D'Onofrio,Enrique E., Mazio,Carlos A.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Departamento Oceanografia, Servicio de Hidrografia Naval and ESCM-INUN/Instituto Antartico Argentino. Direccion Nacional del Antartico/Departamento Oceanografia, Servicio de Hidrografia Naval and ESCM-INUN/Departamento Oceanografia, Servicio de Hidrografia Naval and ESCM-INUN 2004
• Subjects: tide; measurements; cotidal and corange; northwestern Antarctic Peninsula; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Weddell Sea; Bransfield Strait; Weddell; Gerlache; Gerlache Strait; Trinity Peninsula; Antarc*; Polar geoscience
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=3141; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00003141/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=3141&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

The propagation and amplification of the tide at the Gerlache and Bransfield Straits, northwestern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, was studied by analysis of thirteen series of direct sea level measurements. Harmonic analysis was performed to obtain the amplitudes and phases of the M_2, S_2, O_1 and K_1 tidal constituents. Based on the computed harmonic constants, cotidal and corange charts of these main constituents were prepared. The M_2 cotidal lines are parallel to the coast and show predominantly southeastward propagation, except at the western side of the Trinity Peninsula, where the M_2 wave pivots to enter the Bransfield Strait from the Weddell Sea and turns southwestward. M_2 amplitudes present a southwestward decrease. S_2 cotidal lines are normal to the Antarctic Peninsula coast and show southwestward propagation. S_2 corange lines increase eastward from the Gerlache Strait to the Antarctic Strait. O_1 and K_1 cotidal lines are also normal to the Antarctic Peninsula coast. Diurnal amplitudes are alike in the study area except at the northwestern side of the Antarctic Strait where they present a maximum gradient. Amplitudes of the main tidal constituents are higher in the northwestern Weddell Sea than at the northwestern side of the peninsula. This fact explains the maximum tidal amplitudes observed at the Antarctic Strait in comparison to the Bransfield Strait.