Observations of Reflected Internal Solitary Waves near the Continental Shelf of the Dongsha Atoll

Internal solitary waves (ISWs) near the Dongsha Atoll in northern South China Sea (SCS) can be divided into incident, reflected, and refracted waves. Compared with incident ISWs, reflected ISWs are less likely to appear, but their impact on ecological environment marine activity should not underestimated. In this work, field experiments were performed moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) images collected analyze ISWs. Satellite observations showed that they excited by collision between often form of a wave packet composed 2 5 solitons. During propagation, its spatial range gradually increases interacts incoming generated next tidal cycle until it dissipates at approximately 117.5° E. Eighty percent occur from April June. The length crest line is mainly 50 150 km, average propagation speed 1.57 m/s, which smaller than situ amplitudes 10 20 m, accounting for only 40% vertical, velocity, zonal velocities all attenuated. results depth-integrated horizontal energy flux calculation was 61% accelerated velocity surface flow during maximum sea 0.60 m/s. Strong tides beneficial generation Atoll. Incident first-mode