Directional decomposition of internal tides propagating from multiple generation sites

Internal tides generated from multiple sites create complicated interference patterns, often making it difficult to identify the origin, direction of propagation, and dissipation of individual waves. To identify these constituent waves, we apply a directional Fourier filter (DFF) method to analyse multimodal, broad-wavenumber, internal wave fields found over varying topography. We apply the method to data derived from both a numerical model and satellite remote sensing observations. Using a series of two-dimensional (i.e. x–z) simulations, we first demonstrate the capability of the DFF method to separate incoming and reflected internal tides emanating from a supercritical slope. The results show the DFF method requires model sampling rates of Δt∕T