Satellite Observation of Tansmeridional Propagating Internal Waves in the Celebes Sea

Internal waves (IWs) with wave crests of several hundred of kilometers can be well observed by satellite images. In this paper, transmeridional propagating IWs in the Celebes Sea, which have received less attention, is studied using a five-year Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer images. The spatial distribution of IWs in the Celebes Sea shows cross IW propagations, and analysis shows a comparable scale with IWs In the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The IW propagation speed is calculated using two methods based on synergy satellite observations and successive IW packets under the semi-diurnal generation assumption. The results demonstrate that west propagating IWs in the Celebes Sea are generated by semi-diurnal tidal cycles and propagating with a speed of over 3.0 m/s. The analysis of the geometry of IW wave crest and tidal transport distributions show that west propagating IWs in the Celebes Sea are generated at the Sangihe Islands.