Visualization Analysis of Runup and Mixing of Internal Waves on an Upper Slope

• Published in: Journal of waterway, port, coastal, and ocean engineering port, coastal, and ocean engineering, 2004-03, Vol.130 (2), p.89-97
• Main Authors: Umeyama, Motohiko, Shintani, Tetsuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dynamics of the ocean (upper and deep oceans); Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Physics of the oceans; TECHNICAL PAPERS
• ISSN: 0733-950X; 1943-5460
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-950X(2004)130:2(89)

Laboratory experiments were conducted in a 2D wave tank, where a Plexiglas plate was installed in order to understand the runup and breaking of internal waves over a sloping boundary. During the experiments, a fluid consisting of fresh water and salt water was prepared to imitate the density-stratified ocean. An image processing technique was used to reveal the profile of internal waves and the mixture of the upper-layer and lower-layer water. The measured wave profiles were compared with the calculated results by the method of characteristics. The major feature of the runup processes was well reproduced by the theoretical solution, except for the upper slope region. Calculation using the k-ε model was carried out, and the predicted density variation due to mixing was compared with a set of luminance data analyzed by the image processing technique.