The surface signature of internal waves

Oceans that are stratified by density into distinct layers support internal waves. An internal soliton gives rise to characteristic features on the surface, a signature of its presence, in the form of a ‘rip’ region, as reported in Osborne & Burch (Science, vol. 208, 1980, pp. 451–460), which re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fluid mechanics 2012-11, Vol.710, p.277-303
Main Authors: Craig, W., Guyenne, P., Sulem, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Density
Dynamics of the ocean (upper and deep oceans)
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Internal waves
Mathematical models
Oceans
Physics of the oceans
Resonant interactions
Signatures
Solitons
Space shuttles
Surface chemistry
Wave power
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Summary:Oceans that are stratified by density into distinct layers support internal waves. An internal soliton gives rise to characteristic features on the surface, a signature of its presence, in the form of a ‘rip’ region, as reported in Osborne & Burch (Science, vol. 208, 1980, pp. 451–460), which results in a change in reflectance as seen in NASA photographs from the space shuttle. In the present paper, we give a new analysis of this signature of an internal soliton, and the ‘mill pond’ effect of an almost completely calm sea after its passage. Our analysis models the resonant interaction of nonlinear internal waves with the surface modes, where the surface signature is generated by a process analogous to radiative absorption. These theoretical results are illustrated with numerical simulations that take oceanic parameters into account.
ISSN:0022-1120
1469-7645
DOI:10.1017/jfm.2012.364