Eddy acceleration and decay driven by internal tides

Abstract Recent observations and numerical simulations have demonstrated the potential for significant interactions between mesoscale eddies and smaller-scale tidally generated internal waves — also known as internal tides. Here we develop a simple theoretical model that predicts the one-way upscale transfer of energy from internal tides to mesoscale eddies through a critical level mechanism. We find that — in the presence of a critical level — the internal tide energy flux into an eddy is partitioned according to the wave frequency Ω and local inertial frequency f : a fraction of 1 – f /Ω is transferred to the eddy kinetic energy while the remainder is viscously dissipated or supports mixing. These predictions are validated by comparison with a suite of numerical simulations. The simulations further show that the wave-driven energisation of the eddies also accelerates the onset of hydrodynamical instabilities and the break down of the eddies, thereby increasing eddy kinetic energy, but reducing eddy lifetimes. Our estimates suggest that in regions of the ocean with both significant eddy fields and internal tides—such as parts of the Gulf Stream and Antarctic Circumpolar Current—the critical level effect could drive a ∼10% per month increase in the kinetic energy of a typical eddy. Our results provide a basis for parameterising internal tide-eddy interactions in global ocean models where they are currently unrepresented.