An experimental study of stratified mixing caused by internal solitary waves in a two-layered fluid system over variable seabed topography

Stratified mixing is observed in a wave flume on an internal solitary wave (ISW) of depression or elevation type propagating over a submarine ridge. The submarine ridges, which comprise the seabed topography, are either semicircular or triangular. Tests are performed in a series of combinations of submarine ridges with different heights and ISW in different amplitudes within a two-layer fluid system. When the thickness of the top layer is less than that of the lower layer (i.e., H₁<H₂), a depression-type ISW may produce a strong hydraulic jump with downwards motion and continuous eddy diffusion. During diffusion, the leading profile of the ISW transforms a wrapped vortex on the front face of the ridge, and a vortex separation at the apex of the ridge. Meanwhile, an elevation-type ISW causes a vortex in the lee of a submarine ridge, which resembles a surface solitary wave in terms of wave transmission process. The degree of wave-obstacle interaction is determined by energy loss, which is induced by submarine ridge blockage. The experiment results suggest that degree of blocking can be applied to classify various degrees of ISW-obstacle encounter in the stratified two-layer fluid system.     

Numerical simulation of interaction between internal solitary waves and submerged ridges

Direct numerical simulations are performed to study the transformation of internal solitary waves (ISWs) of depression type propagating over an underwater ridge in a two-layer fluid system. Bottom ridges with relatively smooth vertex are employed to represent sills in natural lakes and oceans. Consistent with previous experiments, three interaction types (weak, moderate and strong) are observed to be based on the energy loss. In addition, the moderate interaction are found to be categorized into transmitted and reflected type according to their distinct transformation process. General flow characteristics for ISW–ridge interaction in the benthic boundary layer and in the pycnocline is monitored and analysed. A modified degree of blocking B_m considering both the nonlinear effect of incident ISWs and the blockage effect of the submerged ridge is proposed. Different ISW–ridge interactions are discovered to be linked with B_m. Maximum wave-induced velocities, wave energy losses, reflected and transmitted wave amplitudes are found to have a self-similar feature with B_m. The maximum energy loss is up to 35% and the maximum wave-induced velocity can reach 1.8 times of the phase speed of the incident ISW. Empirical equations are obtained based on the data fitting to predict some useful physical parameters during ISW–ridge interaction.     

内孤立波过山脊地形演化实验研究

通过模型实验,研究了下沉型内孤立波通过山脊地形演化特征。实验以三角形障碍物模拟海底山脊地形,采用两种密度的分层水,对上层流体和下层流体的高度比、密度等进行了量化处理。实验研究表明:KdV理论波形可较好模拟本次实验内孤立波波形,但随着内孤立波振幅的增大,误差增加;在内孤立波与障碍物微量作用、中度作用和破波作用三种程度的相互作用中,内孤立波过障碍物具有不同的波形变化和主波能量衰减率。     

海底山脊作用下内孤立波破碎研究

基于实验室水槽实验,研究了内孤立波在海底山脊地形存在下的破碎过程。实验设置了两层流体的分层环境,定量地控制了上下层水体厚度及密度,使用不同高度的高斯地形模拟实际的海山作用,讨论了不同高度地形作用下内孤立波破碎过程的异同。实验结果表明,内孤立波的破碎过程中由于逆压梯度的存在,在地形处发生边界层分离,产生了底边界层反向射流和涡脱落现象,计算了内孤立波破碎过程中产生的底部切应力的分布。本文通过实验模拟了内孤立波再海山作用下的破碎过程,进一步探究了海山对内孤立波破碎的影响和底部切应力的作用,对于研究自然界中海洋内孤立波在海山区域的破碎现象有参考价值。     

内孤立波与平顶海山作用的能量耗散实验研究

内波破碎引起的能量耗散和混合是海洋内部的重要物理过程。通过在二维内波水槽进行实验室实验,分析内波与地形的作用,探究内孤立波与平顶海山地形作用时波要素、能量以及湍耗散率的时空变化。本实验利用重力塌陷法在两层流体中制造第一模态内孤立波,通过粒子图像测速技术(particle image velocimetry, PIV)获得内孤立波与地形作用时的流场结构,定量分析整个作用过程。结果表明,地形会改变波形甚至引起破碎,内波与地形作用时,振幅和能量密度会在内孤立波爬坡时迅速增大,在地形前缘产生强烈能量耗散。入射波的能量与塌陷高度呈二次函数关系,透射波能量随地形升高减小,反射波能量随地形升高增大。地形前缘局地湍耗散率极值时间序列在部分实验中呈双峰结构,对应内孤立波界面处剪切加强引起湍流耗散和波后缘翻转破碎。破碎引起的地形前缘区域平均湍耗散率量级在10~(-5)m~2/s~3,局地湍耗散率极值与入射波振幅呈指数关系,所有实验中局地湍耗散率的最大值接近10~(-3) m~2/s~3量级。     

内孤立波与海脊相互作用的模拟研究

A nonhydrostatic numerical model was developed and numerical experiments performed on the interaction of an internal solitary wave(ISW) with a sill, for a two-layer fluid with a diffusive interface. Based on the blocking parameter(Br), the flow was classified into three cases:(1) when bottom topography has little influence on the propagation and spatial structure of the ISW(Br0.5),(2) where the ISW is distorted significantly by the blocking effect of the topography(though no wave breaking occurs,(0.5Br0.7), and(3) where the ISW is broken as it encounters and passes over the bottom topography(0.7Br). The numerical results obtained here are consistent with those obtained in laboratory experiments. The breaking process of the incident ISW when Br≈0.7 was completely reproduced. Dissipation rate was linearly related to the blocking parameter when Br0.7, and the maximum dissipation rate could reach about 34% as Br raised to about 1.0. After that, instead of breaking, more reflection happened. Similarly, breaking induced mixing was also most effective during Br around 1.0, and can be up to 0.16.     

Accuracy Evaluation of A Diagnostic Test by Detecting Outliers and Influential Observations

Logit regression analysis is widely applied in scientific studies and laboratory experiments, where skewed observations on a data set are often encountered. A number of problems with this method, for example, oudiers and influential observations, can cause overdispersion when a model is fitted. In this study a systematic statistical approach, including the plotting of several indices is used to diagnose the lack-of-fit of a logistic regression model. The outliers and influential observations on data from laboratory experiments are then detected. Specifically we take account of the interaction of an internal sohtary wave （ISW） with an obstacle, i.e., an underwater ridge, and also analyze the effects of the ridge height, the lower layer water depth, and the potential energy on the amplitude-based transmission rate of the ISW. As concluded, the goodness-of-fit of the revised logit regression model is better than that of the model without this approach.     

一个典型南海北部第二模态内孤立波的观测分析

第二模态内孤立波在海洋中极少被观测到。本文基于潜标高时空分辨率观测数据,对南海北部陆架区的一个典型第二模态内孤立波进行了分析。结果表明,该第二模态内孤立波的流核出现在135 m深度处,其最大水平流速为0.66 m/s,传播方向为西偏北58°。沿传播方向的内孤立波流速分布在80～170 m的深度范围内,而与传播方向相反的逆流出现在海表和海底附近。垂向模态分析表明,该第二模态内孤立波水平流速的垂向结构与理论结果吻合良好。能量计算结果显示其动能密度的垂向积分可达14 kJ/m2,而波峰线方向单位长度上的动能估算值为5.98 MJ/m。尽管该第二模态内孤立波的动能比陆架区第一模态内孤立波小1个量级,但其高达0.045 s-1的流速垂向剪切约为典型第一模态内孤立波的2倍,表明其导致的混合可能更强。     

Generation of internal waves by barotropic tidal flow over a steep ridge

A three-dimensional nonhydrostatic numerical model is used to study the generation of internal waves by the barotropic tidal flow over a steep two-dimensional ridge in an ocean with strong upper-ocean stratification. The process is examined by varying topographic width, amplitude of the barotropic tide, and stratification at three ridge heights. The results show that a large amount of energy is converted from the barotropic tide to the baroclinic wave when the slope parameter, defined as the ratio of the maximum ridge slope to the maximum wave slope, is greater than 1. The energy flux of internal waves can be normalized by the vertical integral of the buoyancy frequency over the ridge depths and the kinetic energy of the barotropic tides in the water column. A relationship between the normalized energy flux and the slope parameter is derived. The normalized energy flux reaches a constant value independent of the slope parameter when the slope parameter is greater than 1.5. It is inferred that internal wave generation is most efficient at the presence of strong upper-ocean stratification over a steep, tall ridge. In the Luzon Strait, the strength of the shallow thermocline and the location of the Kuroshio front could affect generation of internal solitary waves in the northern South China Sea.     

Internal solitary waves in the East China Sea

A European Space Agency＇ s ENVISAT advanced synthetic aperture radar （ASAR） image covering Zhejiang coastal water in the East China Sea （ECS） was acquired on 1 August 2007. This image shows that there are about 20 coherent internal solitary wave （ISW） packets propagating southwestward toward Zhejiang coast. These ISW packets are separated by about 10 kin, suggesting that these ISWs are tide-generated waves. Each ISW packet contains 5-15 wave crests. The wavelengths of the wave crests within the ISW packets are about 300 m. The lengths of the leading wave crests are about 50 km. The ISW amplitude is estimated from solving KdV equation in an ideal two-layer ocean model. It is found that the ISW amplitudes is about 8 m. Further analysis of the ASAR image and ocean stratification profiles show that the observed ISWs are depression waves. Analyzing the tidal current finds that these waves are locally generated. The wavelength and amplitude of the ECS ISW are much smaller than their counter- parts in the South China Sea （SCS）. The propagation speed of the ECS ISW is also an order of magnitude smaller than that of the SCS ISW. The observed ISWs in the ECS happened during a spring tide period.     

Spatial and temporal variation process of seabed dynamic response induced by the internal solitary wave

Internal solitary wave(ISW) is often accompanied by huge energy transport, which will change the pore water pressure in the seabed. Based on the two-dimensional Biot consolidation theory, the excess pore water pressure in seabed was simulated, and the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of excess pore water pressure was studied. As the parameters of both ISW and seabed can affect the excess pore water pressure, the distribution of pore water pressure showed both dissipation and phase lag...     

Laboratory experiments on depression interfacial solitary waves over a trapezoidal obstacle with horizontal plateau

While shoaling from deep water in a stratified ocean, an internal wave may encounter different types of submarine topography. As it travels, the wave may generate vortex motion on a slope, turbulent mixing between the upper and bottom layer, and even waveform inversion on the plateau of a slope-shelf feature. Although many oceanographers have believed that the inversion from depression to elevation may commence at the turning point where the upper and low layer are equal in depth, this phenomenon has not been fully verified in field observations or numerical schemes. In order to clarify this unique phenomenon, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted on the evolution of an interfacial solitary wave of depression across a slope followed by a horizontal plateau on slope-shelf obstacle. Experimental results indicate the length of the plateau may become a proxy to determine whether the inverted waveform could maintain its strength or be weakened swiftly, which could inflict direct impact on the ecology of the local oceanic environment. Comparison on the internal flow field is also presented in this paper to illustrate the process of waveform inversion as an internal wave propagating over a trapezoidal, triangular ridge and uniform long slope, respectively.     

南海东沙海域内孤立波形态研究

本文基于反射地震数据和MODIS遥感数据,对南海东沙海域内孤立波及孤立波群的形态有了系统的认识。内孤立波存在上升型和下降型两种极性波,又根据波形分成“钟形”、“平底形”和“碗形”三种类型,孤立波在波谷处的形状与孤立波振幅有关。单个内孤立波在传播一段时间后,受到各种因素的影响,会发育成波群。东沙海域的不同位置存在两种波群:“有序型”波群和“复杂型”波群,结合它们的位置及波群传播过程,认为这两种波群可能是孤立波从深海向陆架的整个传播过程中的两个阶段,“有序型”波群在被东沙岛阻碍后,受到各种海底地形、东沙环礁、波-波相互作用的影响,转变成“复杂型”波群。     

A study of internal solitary waves observed on the continental shelf in the northwestern South China Sea

Based on in-situ time series data from the acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) and thermistor chain in Wenchang area, a sequence of internal solitary wave (ISW) packets was observed in September 2005, propagating northwest on the continental shelf of the northwestern South China Sea (SCS). Corresponding to different stratification of the water column and tidal condition, both elevation and depression ISWs were observed at the same mooring location with amplitude of 35 m and 25 m respectively in different days. Regular arrival of the remarkable ISW packets at approximately the diurnal tidal period and the dominance of diurnal internal waves in the study area, strongly suggest that the main energy source of the waves is the diurnal tide. Notice that the wave packets were all riding on the troughs and shoulders of the internal tides, they were probably generated locally from the shelf break by the evolution of the internal tides due to nonlinear and dispersive effects.     

Numerical study on evolution of an internal solitary wave across an idealized shelf with different front slopes

Numerical simulations are performed to investigate the influence of variable front slopes on flow evolution and waveform inversion of a depression ISW (internal solitary wave) over an idealized shelf with variable front slopes. A finite volume based on Cartesian grid method is adopted to solve the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations using a k-ε model for the turbulent closure. Numerical results exhibit the variations of several pertinent properties of the flow field, in the case with or without waveform inversion on the horizontal plateau of an obstacle. The clockwise vortex is stronger than the counterclockwise one, almost throughout the wave-obstacle interaction. Analysis of the turbulent energy budget reveals that the turbulent production term in the governing equations dominates the wave evolution during a wave-obstacle interaction; otherwise the buoyancy production term and the dissipation term due to viscosity within turbulent eddies play a major role in energy dissipation. In addition, the front slope affects mainly the process and reflection of the wave evolution but has less influence than other physical parameters. Moreover, total wave energy of the leading crest is smaller than that of the leading trough even in the cases with waveform inversion on the plateau.     

An investigation on internal solitary waves in a two-layer fluid: Propagation and reflection from steep slopes

Experimental investigations on internal solitary wave (ISW) propagation and their reflection from a smooth uniform slope were conducted in a two-layered fluid system with a free surface. A 12-meter-long wave flume was in use which incorporated with: (1) a movable vertical gate for generating ISW; (2) six ultrasonic probes for measuring the fluctuation of an ISW; and (3) a steep uniform slope (from one of θ=30°, 50°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 130°) much greater than those ever published in the literature. This paper presents the wave profile properties of the ISW recorded in the flume and their nonlinear features in comparison with the existing Korteweg de Vries (KdV) and modified Korteweg-de Vries (MKdV) theories. Experimental results show that the KdV theory is suitable for most small-amplituded ISWs and MKdV theory is appropriate for the reflected ISWs from various uniform slopes. In addition, both the amplitude-based reflection coefficient and reflected energy approach a constant value asymptotically when plotted against the slope and the characteristic length ratio, respectively. The reflected wave amplitudes calculated from experimental data agree well with those reported elsewhere. The optimum reflection coefficient is found within the limit of 0.85 for wave amplitude, among the test runs from steep normal slope of 30° to inverse angle of 130°, and around 0.75 for the reflected wave energy, produced by an ISW on a vertical wall.     

Numerical Model of Internal Solitary Wave Evolution on Impermeable Variable Seabed in A Stratified Two-Layer Fluid System

1.IntroductionIn mathematics and physics,a soliton is a self-reinforcing solitary wave caused by nonlinear ef-fectsinthe medium.Solitons are found in many physical phenomena(Chou and Shih,1996;Chouand Quyang,1999;Chouet al.,2003;Chenet al.,2004;Wang,2004;…     

Breaking solitary wave evolution over a porous underwater step

Solitary wave evolution over a shelf including porous damping is investigated using Volume-Averaged Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations. Porous media induced damping is determined based on empirical formulations for relevant parameters, and numerical results are compared with experimental information available in the literature. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of wave damping on soliton disintegration and evolution along the step for both breaking and non-breaking solitary waves. The influence of several parameters such as geometrical configuration (step height and still water level), porous media properties (porosity and nominal diameter) or solitary wave characteristics (wave height) is analyzed. Numerical simulations show the porous bed induced wave damping is able to modify wave evolution along the step. Step height is observed as a relevant parameter to influence wave evolution. Depth ratio upstream and downstream of the edge appears to be the more relevant parameter in the transmission and reflection coefficients than porosity or the ratio of wave height–water depth. Porous step also modifies the fission and the solitary wave disintegration process although the number of solitons is observed to be the same in both porous and impermeable steps. In the absence of breaking, porous bed triggers a faster fission of the incident wave into a second and a third soliton, and the leading and the second soliton reduces their amplitude while propagating. This decrement is observed to increase with porosity. Moreover, the second soliton is released before on an impermeable step. Breaking process is observed to dominate over the wave dissipation at the porous bottom. Fission is first produced on a porous bed revealing a clear influence of the bottom characteristics on the soliton generation. The amplitude of the second and third solitons is very similar in both impermeable and porous steps but they evolved differently due to the effect of bed damping.     

Mooring observations of internal solitary waves in the deep basin west of Luzon Strait

A total of 137 internal solitary waves （ISWs） are captured during a field experiment conducted in the deep basin west of the Luzon Strait （LS） from March to August, 2010. Mooring observations reveal that a fully developed ISW owns a maximum westward velocity of more than 1.8 m/s and an amplitude of about 200 m. The ISWs in the South China Sea （SCS） are most active in July, which may be due to the strong stratification in summer. Most of the ISW episodes are detected around and after the 1st or 15th lunar day, indicating that the ISW in the SCS is triggered by astronomic tides. Half part of the observed ISWs were detected around 19：00 local time, which can be explained by the fact that type-a ISWs emerged in the evening at roughly the same time each day. The propagation direction of the ISWs and the astronomic tides in the LS show that the area south of the Batan Island is probably the main source region of the type-a ISWs, while the area south of Itbayat Island and south of the Batan Island is likely the main source region of the type-b ISWs observed at the mooring. Moreover, for the resonance of semidiurnal internal tides emitting from the double ridges in the LS, the underwater ridge south of the Itbayat Island and south of the Batan Island is believed to favor the generation of the energetic ISWs.     

初始倾斜跃层所致内波的数值研究

The pycnocline in a closed domain is tilted by external wind forcing and tends to restore to a level posi- tion when the wind falls. An internal seiche oscillation exhibits if the forcing is weak, otherwise internal surge and internal solitary waves emerge, which serve as a link to cascade energy to small-scale processes. A two-dimensional non-hydrostatic code with a turbulence closure model is constructed to extend previous laboratory studies. The model could reproduce all the key phenomena observed in the corresponding labo- ratory experiments. The model results further serve as a comprehensive and reliable data set for an in-depth understanding of the related dynamical process. The comparative analyses indicate that nonlinear term favors the generation of internal surge and subsequent internal solitary waves, and the linear model predicts the general trend reasonably well. The vertical boundary can approximately reflect all the incoming waves, while the slope boundary serves as an area for small-scale internal wave breaking and energy dissipation. The temporal evolutions of domain integrated kinetic and potential energy are also analyzed, and the results indicate that about 20% of the initial available potential energy is lost during the first internal wave breaking process. Some numerical tactics such as grid topology and model initialization are also briefly discussed.