Chevane C. M. auteur aut IRD Penven Pierrick auteur aut IRD Nehama F. P. J. auteur aut IRD Reason C. J. C. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access The Sofala Bank, a wide shelf located along the central coast of Mozambique, hosts tides with high amplitudes. The Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) was used to analyse the tidal currents on the bank and to investigate their effects on the stratification and generation of tidal fronts. During spring tides, barotropic tidal currents with maximum values ranging from 40 cm s(-1) to 70 cm s(-1) are found on the central bank. The major axis of the tidal ellipses for M-2 and S-2 follow a cross-shelf direction with mainly anticlockwise rotation. Similar to observations, three distinct regimes occur: (i) a warm well-mixed region on the inner shelf where the depths are < 30 m; (ii) a well-mixed colder region above the shelf edge; and (iii) a stratified region offshore. The model shows that the tides lead to cooling where two criteria are satisfied: the Simpson and Hunter parameter log(10)(h/U-3) < 3.2 and the depth h > 30 m. The shelf edge of the bank is important for internal tide generation. Two frontal structures result, one offshore between cooler mixed waters and warmer stratified waters and the other in shallow inshore waters, between cooler mixed waters and solar heated mixed waters. specialized barotropic tidal currents ROMS sea surface temperature shallow seas tidal front MOZAMBIQUE 032 38 4 465-479 2016 1814-232X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010068867 10.2989/1814232x.2016.1236039 1814-232X [F B010068867] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010068867 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2017/02/010068867.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2017-03-02 2017-08-23 fdi:010068867 fre