Abstract
Based on pressure tide-gauge observations, sea-level records are derived for ten sites along the coast of West Greenland. The ocean tidal signal is extracted by a harmonic tidal analysis. The accuracy of the determined tidal constants is discussed in detail. The tides account for 85% of the observed sea-level standard deviation. The tide gauge records reveal significant shallow-water tidal effects, in particular compound and overtide amplitudes reaching 5 cm. The propagation of the tidal waves into the fjords depends strongly on local conditions and is in some cases accompanied by an amplification of the tidal amplitudes. The observed tidal signals are compared to the predictions of the global ocean tide model FES2004. At the outer coast, a good agreement is found. Inside the fjords, however, the model performs worse and tide gauge observations may still be indispensable when accurate tidal signals are required.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen OB, Egbert GD, Erofeeva SY, Ray RD (2006) Mapping non-linear shallow-water tides: a look at the past and future. Ocean Dyn 56:416–429. doi:10.1007/s10236-006-0060-7
Dach R, Hugentobler U, Fridez P, Meindl M (2007) Bernese GPS Software version 5.0. Astron. Inst. Univ. of Bern, Bern
Dietrich R, Rülke A, Scheinert M (2005) Present-day vertical crustal deformations in West Greenland from repeated GPS observations. Geophys J Int 163:865–874. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2005.02766.x
Dietrich R, Maas H-G, Baessler M, Rülke A, Richter A, Schwalbe E, Westfeld P (2007) Jakobshavn Isbrae, West Greenland: flow velocities and tidal interactions of the front area from 2004 field observations. J Geophys Res 112:F03S21. doi:10.1029/2006JF000601
Ekholm S (1996) A full coverage, high-resolution, topographic model of Greenland computed from a variety of digital elevation data. J Geophys Res B10:21,961–21,972
Forsberg R, Rubek F (1998) Gravity and GPS measurements in Greenland 1997. Survey and data processing report, Office of Geodynamics, National Survey and Cadastre (KMS), Denmark
Huess V, Andersen OB (2001) Seasonal variation in the main tidal constituent from altimetry. Geophys Res Lett 28(4):567–570
Jones JE, Davies AM (2008) On the modification of tides in shallow water regions by wind effects. J Geophys Res 113:C05014. doi:10.1029/2007JC004310
Le Provost C (1991) Generation of overtides and compound tides (review). In: Parker BB (ed) Tidal hydrodynamics. Wiley, New York, pp 263–295
Long AJ, Roberts DH, Simpson MJR, Dawson S, Milne GA, Huybrechts P (2008) Late Weichselian relative sea-level changes and ice sheet history in southeast Greenland. Earth Planet Sci Lett 272:8–18
Lyard F, Lefevre F, Letellier T, Francis O (2006) Modelling the global ocean tides: a modern insight from FES2004. Ocean Dyn 56:394–415. doi:10.1007/s10236-006-0086-x
Murray MT (1964) A general method for the analysis of hourly heights of the tide. Int Hydrogr Rev 41:91–101
Pugh DT (1987) Tides, surges and mean sea-level. Wiley, Chichester
Richter A, Marcos M, Monserrat S, Gomis D, Ruiz S, Liebsch G, Dietrich R (2005) Comparison and combination of coastal and off-shore tide gauge measurements from Eivissa Island, Western Mediterranean. Mar Geod 28(4):271–289
Scheinert M, Dietrich R, Schneider W (1997) One year of gravimetric Earth tide observations in Kangerlussuaq/West Greenland. In: Ducarme B, Paquet P (ed): Proc. 13th International Symposium on Earth Tides, Brussels, July 22–25, 1997. Obs. Royal de Belgique, Brussels, pp 201–208
Weidick A (1996) Neoglacial changes of ice cover and sea level in Greenland—a classical enigma. In: Grønnow B (ed) The Paleo-Eskimo cultures of Greenland. Danish Polar Center, Copenhagen, pp 257–270
Acknowledgements
Part of the used sea-level data is from the Danish Maritime Safety Administration, made available by the British Oceanographic Data Centre. Air pressure data were provided by the Danish Meteorological Institute. The fieldwork was partly funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and by the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Franciscus Colijn
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Richter, A., Rysgaard, S., Dietrich, R. et al. Coastal tides in West Greenland derived from tide gauge records. Ocean Dynamics 61, 39–49 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-010-0341-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-010-0341-z