Study on the Characteristics of Internal Solitary Waves in Arctic Kara Sea Based on SAR Images

Based on SAR remote sensing observation and theoretical calculation, the internal solitary waves (ISWs) in the Arctic Kara Sea are studied. A total of 320 Sentinel-1 SAR remote sensing images between July and October 2022 were processed. Among these images, 834 ISWs were identified in 97 remote sensing images. The spatial distribution and propagation patterns of ISWs in the Kara Sea were interpreted. ISWs are widely present in the region east of Novaya Zemlya in the Kara Sea with water depth exceeding 100 m. Different months exhibit distinct spatial characteristics of ISWs in the Kara Sea. The primary reason for the generation of ISWs is the forcing because of the interaction of the tide currents with the intricate topography. The ocean currents also play a role in regulating ISWs in the Kara Sea. The propagation of ISWs in the Kara Sea is closely associated with the tidal transport process. The amplitudes of ISWs in the Kara Sea were analyzed using the KdV theory and the eKdV theory. The analysis indicates that amplitudes of ISWs between 10 and 19.9 m account for 67% and 29%, respectively. The maximum amplitudes obtained were 41.3 and 64.5 m. Comparing the theoretical results with in situ data, it was observed that the amplitudes of ISWs inverted by eKdV theory are closer agreement with the CTD measurement results.