OCEANIC TIDES OVER THE NEWFOUNDLAND AND SCOTIAN SHELVES FROM TOPEX POSEIDON ALTIMETRY/

A modified response analysis in the form of an orthotide parametrizati on is used to derive major semi-diurnal and diurnal tidal constituents over the Newfoundland and Scotian Shelves from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimet er data. The orthotide formulation simultaneously solves for eight maj or semi-diurnal and diurnal constituents, and has an accuracy of bette r than similar to 1.5 cm for each constituent. Tidal elevations are de rived from the altimeter data on the ascending and descending satellit e ground tracks, and interpolated using the method of statistical inte rpolation. The semi-diurnal constituents (M(2), S-2 and N-2) compare f avourably with available in-situ observations and a numerical model. T he diurnals (K-1 and O-1) are not as accurate as the semi-diurnals, es pecially in the nearshore environment. The paper demonstrates the abil ity of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry to provide accurate tidal data over a continental shelf.