Flavien Gouillon

Graduate Research Assistant

PhD Student in Physical Oceanography

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Forced Tidal Response in the Gulf of Mexico




Objectives of the Research

1) Implement tides on the Gulf of Mexico using a high resolution model
2) Show the impact of astronomical forces on the free wave coming from the tidal Atlantic flow in the Gulf of Mexico
3) Provide new estimates for total tidal power and tidal energy fluxes in the GoM


Abstract

This study focuses on modeling the tidal dynamics in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). In particular, the study adresses the problem of differentiating the sources of tidal energy in this semi-enclosed sea. Tidal energy can enter the basin through propagation of tidal signals through the straits connecting the GoM to the Atlantic Ocean, or by local tidal gravitational forces imparted by celestial bodies. This study provides new estimates of the tidal response in the GoM due to these different forcing and mechanisms using numerical model experiments with tidal forcing imposed at the open boundaries (OB) and by the local tidal potential (LTP). It also provides new estimates of total tidal power and tidal energy fluxes in the GoM. Analyses are performed with the Navy Coastal Ocean Model run in a barotropic configuration with high horizontal resolution (1/60°). The simulations are compared with observations and previous studies. Results show that diurnal tides in the GoM are dominantly due to the co-oscillation with the western Atlantic, and that a substantial amount of semidiurnal tidal energy enters the Gulf through the straits as well. However, the LTP significantly modifies the propagation of the semidiurnal tidal signal in the GoM, and slightly reduces the tidal power asssociated with the diurnal tides in the basin.

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Figure 1: Total M2 (panel a) and O1 tidal energy density in the GoM averaged over a tidal cycle for the LTP&OB model experiment (colored in a logarithmic scale in units of J.m-2). Contours are the ratios of the tidal energy density for the LTP experiment (black solid line) or OB experiment (gray dashed line) to the tidal energy density of the LTP&OB model experiment.


Gouillon ,F., S. L. Morey, D. S. Dukhovskoy, and J. J. O'Brien (2010), Forced tidal response in the Gulf of Mexico, Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, Accepted


Tidal Modeling Team

Dr. J.J. O'Brien , Professor Emeritus
Dr. S. Morey ,Assistant Scholar/Scientist
Dr. D. Dukhovskoy , Research Associate
F. Gouillon , Graduate Research Assistant


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Center for Ocean Atmospheric Prediction Studies
Florida State University
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