High resolution tidal model of Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Baffin and Hudson Bay

Ice induced variability of tides in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, including Baffin Bay and Hudson Strait/Hudson Bay system, was studied by means of a new high resolution tidal model. Here we show that the seasonal variations of the tidal constants are significant in the major part of the domain. Month to month changes of the tidal phases can reach 180 degrees due to changes in the number and positions of the amphidromic points, whereas the amplitude variations are especially large in the near resonant basins. We also show that the tidal seasonality has undergone dramatic changes in the past decades due the decaying extent of the Arctic sea ice. These seasonal/decadal scale changes not only vary tidal dissipation on the shelf, but also impact tides in the adjacent open ocean and, therefore, cannot be neglected.