Estimation of the Baroclinic Tidal Energy in the Timor Sea Based on a General Circulation Model

Baroclinic tidal energy generated by the major semidiurnal (M₂ and S₂) and diurnal (K₁ and O₁) tidal constituents in the Timor Sea is investigated by using MITgcm with high-resolution configuration. The components of the governing equation for the depth-integrated baroclinic energy are analyzed. It is shown that the baroclinic kinetic energy budget behaviors are different in the shallow continent shelf (< 150 m), continent slope (150 - 1200 m) and the deeper ocean (> 1200 m). Most of the baroclinic kinetic energy is generated at the continent slope and part of it dissipates locally. A fraction of it propagates into the shallower continent shelf and dissipates there. In addition, tidally induced diapycnal diffusivities tend to be strong in both deep ocean and thermocline.