MODELING OF BAROCLINIC TIDES IN THE SHELF ZONE OF GUINEA

Results of numerical modeling of baroclinic tides in the shelf zone of Guinea are presented. Equations of motion include the nonlinear terms as well as those responsible for turbulent viscosity. It is shown tha t the interaction of barotropic tide with the continental slope in a s tratified fluid results in generation of solitary internal waves with wavelength order 2 km moving shoreward from the shelf break. Packets o f relatively short (200 - 500 m) waves occur on the solitary wave unde r conditions of slowly varying depth. Two transformations mechanisms o f the solitary internal waves into wave train are considered. They occ ur in different hydrological situations. Results of numerical calculat ions are qualitatively and quantitatively consistent with the data of observations.