Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications
In addition to being observable in laboratory experiments, internal wave beams are reported in geophysical settings, which are characterized by non-uniform density stratifications. Here, we perform a combined theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of internal wave beams in non-uniform...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
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Cambridge University Press
2011
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/62005 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7639-0194 |
| _version_ | 1826204764250046464 |
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| author | Mathur, Manikandan S. Peacock, Thomas |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering Mathur, Manikandan S. Peacock, Thomas |
| author_sort | Mathur, Manikandan S. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | In addition to being observable in laboratory experiments, internal wave beams are reported in geophysical settings, which are characterized by non-uniform density stratifications. Here, we perform a combined theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of internal wave beams in non-uniform density stratifications. Transmission and reflection coefficients, which can differ greatly for different physical quantities, are determined for sharp density-gradient interfaces and finite-width transition regions, accounting for viscous dissipation. Thereafter, we consider even more complex stratifications to model geophysical scenarios. We show that wave beam ducting can occur under conditions that do not necessitate evanescent layers, obtaining close agreement between theory and quantitative laboratory experiments. The results are also used to explain recent field observations of a vanishing wave beam at the Keana Ridge, Hawaii. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T13:00:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/62005 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T13:00:42Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/620052022-09-28T11:27:11Z Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications Mathur, Manikandan S. Peacock, Thomas Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering Peacock, Thomas Peacock, Thomas Mathur, Manikandan S. In addition to being observable in laboratory experiments, internal wave beams are reported in geophysical settings, which are characterized by non-uniform density stratifications. Here, we perform a combined theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of internal wave beams in non-uniform density stratifications. Transmission and reflection coefficients, which can differ greatly for different physical quantities, are determined for sharp density-gradient interfaces and finite-width transition regions, accounting for viscous dissipation. Thereafter, we consider even more complex stratifications to model geophysical scenarios. We show that wave beam ducting can occur under conditions that do not necessitate evanescent layers, obtaining close agreement between theory and quantitative laboratory experiments. The results are also used to explain recent field observations of a vanishing wave beam at the Keana Ridge, Hawaii. National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant No. 0645529) United States. Office of Naval Research (ONR grant N00014-09-1-0282) 2011-03-30T20:58:17Z 2011-03-30T20:58:17Z 2009-10 2009-07 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0022-1120 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/62005 Mathur, Manikandan and Thomas Peacock. "Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications." Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 639, pp 133-152 (2009) ©2009 Cambridge University Press. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7639-0194 en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022112009991236 Journal of Fluid Mechanics Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf Cambridge University Press MIT web domain |
| spellingShingle | Mathur, Manikandan S. Peacock, Thomas Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications |
| title | Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications |
| title_full | Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications |
| title_fullStr | Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications |
| title_short | Internal wave beam propagation in non-uniform stratifications |
| title_sort | internal wave beam propagation in non uniform stratifications |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/62005 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7639-0194 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mathurmanikandans internalwavebeampropagationinnonuniformstratifications AT peacockthomas internalwavebeampropagationinnonuniformstratifications |