Mixing by Tidal Interaction with Sloping Boundaries

The process of mixing by tides interacting with topography involves several stages. First some fraction of the energy contained in the barotropic tide must be converted into baroclinic energy, through the generation of internal tides and turbulent boundary layers. Secondly, the energy in the internal tides must be transmitted into smaller vertical wavelengths, thereby increasing the vertical shear of the motion. When vertical shears are sufficiently strong, instability may result, leading to overturning and mixing. Finally, the mixed fluid is transported away from the mixing region modifying the ocean stratification. The net effect of the tides on the ocean stratification depends on the efficiency of all three processes.