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Generation of internal solitary waves in a pycnocline by an internal wave beam: a numerical study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2011

N. GRISOUARD ,
C. STAQUET  and
T. GERKEMA
N. GRISOUARD*
Affiliation:
Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels, UJF/CNRS/G-INP, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France
C. STAQUET
Affiliation:
Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels, UJF/CNRS/G-INP, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France
T. GERKEMA
Affiliation:
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Texel, The Netherlands
*
†Email address for correspondence: grisouard@cims.nyu.edu
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Abstract

Oceanic observations from western Europe and the south-western Indian ocean have provided evidence of the generation of internal solitary waves due to an internal tidal beam impinging on the pycnocline from below – a process referred to as ‘local generation’ (as opposed to the more direct generation over topography). Here we present the first direct numerical simulations of such a generation process with a fully nonlinear non-hydrostatic model for an idealised configuration. We show that, depending on the parameters, different modes can be excited and we provide examples of internal solitary waves as first, second and third modes, trapped in the pycnocline. A criterion for the selection of a particular mode is put forward, in terms of phase speeds. In addition, another simpler geometrical criterion is presented to explain the selection of modes in a more intuitive way. Finally, results are discussed and compared with the configuration of the Bay of Biscay.

JFM classification

Geophysical and Geological Flows: Internal waves Geophysical and Geological Flows: Ocean processes Waves/Free-surface Flows: Solitary waves
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 676 , 10 June 2011 , pp. 491 - 513
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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References

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