Generation of internal waves resulting from the interaction of a barotropic tide with a horizontallyinhomogeneous density field and bottom topography

This paper addresses the problem of the generation of internal waves by a barotropic tide propagating in a uniformly stratified sea across the frontal zone overlying a submerged ridge or a continental slope. Using Riemann's technique, we have performed computations and analysed the wave fields' spatial characteristics and have defined the dependences of the generated wave amplitudes, bottom topography parameters, and density field. It is shown that the presence of a horizontally-inhomogeneous density region over a subwater feature may lead to substantial alteration of the maximum amplitudinal values of internal waves, both inside and around the frontal zone.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Assessing the west ridge of Luzon Strait as an internal wave mediator

The Luzon Strait is blocked by two meridional ridges at depths, with the east ridge somewhat higher than the west ridge in the middle reaches of the Strait. Previous numerical models identified the Luzon Strait as the primary generation site of internal M₂ tides entering the northern South China Sea (Niwa and Hibiya, 2004), but the role of the west-versus-east ridge was uncertain. We used a hydrostatic model for the northern South China Sea and a nonhydrostatic, process-oriented model to evaluate how the west ridge of Luzon Strait modifies westward propagation of internal tides, internal bores and internal solitary waves. The dynamic role of the west ridge depends strongly on the characteristics of internal waves and is spatially inhomogeneous. For M₂ tides, both models identify the west ridge in the middle reaches of Luzon Strait as a dampener of incoming internal waves from the east ridge. In the northern Luzon Strait, the west ridge is quite imposing in height and becomes a secondary generation site for M₂ internal tides. If the incoming wave is an internal tide, previous models suggested that wave attenuation depends crucially on how supercritical the west ridge slope is. If the incoming wave is an internal bore or internal solitary wave, our investigation suggests a loss of sensitivity to the supercritical slope for internal tides, leaving ridge height as the dominant factor regulating the wave attenuation. Mechanisms responsible for the ridge-induced attenuation are discussed.     

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.     

Profile Evolution and Energy Dissipation for Internal Soliton Transmitting over Different Submarine Ridges

1 .IntroductionWhile surface solitary waves arefoundin many physical phenomena (Chouand Shih,1996 ;Chouand Quyang,1999 ;Chouet al .,2003 ; Chenet al .,2004 ; Wang,2004 ;Tsenget al .,2005) ,internal solitary waves (ISWs) have been observed since the beginning of the 20th century.In fact ,some internal waves have alarge enoughamplitudeto cause consequence onthe surface .Hence obser-vation of the oceansurface may helpto detect the activities of internal waves . We require observationsthrough…     

Monitoring short-period internal waves in the White Sea

Widespread short-period internal wave (SPIW) activity in the White Sea has been revealed for the first time based on long-term (2009–2013) monitoring performed using satellite and in situ observations, and the statistical characteristics of these waves have been obtained. Two main regions where short-period waves constantly exist have been identified: the shelf area near the frontal zone at the boundary between the Basin and the Gorlo Strait and the shallow shelf area where the depths are about 30–50 m near Solovetskie Islands. Intense internal waves (IIWs), which are substantially nonlinear and are related to specific phases of a barotropic tide, are regularly observed near frontal zones. The wave height can reach half the sea depth and the wave periods vary from 7 to 18 min.     

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。     

海南岛西部岸外沙波的高分辨率形态特征

利用SIMRAD-EM3000多波束探测系统和DGPS定位系统,对海南岛东方岸外的沙波沙脊区进行了高精度探测,分析结果表明:从海岸到陆架底形具有明显的分带性,依次出现弱侵蚀底形段、沙波沙脊底形段和平坦底形段。沙波仅发育于沙波沙脊段,介于水深20~50 m之间,沙波形态有二维与三维两种,沙波波高多为0.7~2.5 m,波长20~70 m,沙波指数(L/H)为20~60,对称指数为1~3;沙波沙脊区沉积物的搬运方向有明显的规律性,在沙脊的西侧,沉积物主要向北搬运;在沙脊的东侧,沉积物主要向南搬运;沙波的形成和发育主要受潮流场控制,热带风暴对其有改造作用。     

Beam propagation of tidal internal waves over a submarine slope of the Mascarene Ridge

The generation of internal tides over the Mascarene Ridge is studied on the basis of moored measurements and numerical modeling. The beam structure of the internal wave propagation over a submarine ridge is analyzed. The dependence of the beam propagation of the perturbations on the steepness of the slope, the depth of the ridge crest, and the stratification is studied.     

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。     

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.     

Generation of internal waves in the region of a bottom ridge with continuously varying height

Internal waves generated by a barotropic wave impinging on a bottom ridge with continuously varying height are studied within the framework of the linear theory of long waves. We consider the case where the diurnal tide travels at an arbitrary angle to the axis of the ridge located in the area of a geostrophic flow caused by tilting of the free sea surface and the interface of a two-layer ocean. We study the dependences of the amplitudes of internal waves on the velocity of the geostrophic flow, the direction of propagation of the barotropic tide, and the geometry of the ridge. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

The generation of internal waves by the diurnal barotropic tide in the area of extensive irregularity of the bottom topography

The generation of internal waves by the barotropic tide in a two-layer ocean of variable depth is studied within the framework of the linear theory of long waves in view of the Coriolis force. A barotropic wave climbs at an arbitrary angle to the axis of the extensive ridge with constantly varying profile. The relationships between the amplitudes of the generated internal waves, the location of the ridge, and the angle of climb of the barotropic tide are studied. The analogous research is given in refs 1 and 2.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov. UDK 532.59.     

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.     

Short-period internal waves in the frontal zones of non-tidal seas (the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea)

This paper reports empirical data on short-period internal waves in the Black Sea and Aegean frontal zones, collected through the use of distributed temperature sensor arrays. Peculiar features of the behaviour and propagation of the internal waves in these zones are shown. It is shown that the wavefield is anisotropic and reduction of the wave lengths diminishes during the climb up a sloping pycnocline. The energy level of the spectra of internal wave oscillations in the frontal zones of non-tidal seas was found to be lower than that relating to oceanic frontal zones.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Internal tide in the Kara Gates Strait

We observed strong internal tidal waves in the Kara Gates Strait. Internal tides are superimposed over a system of mean currents from the Barents to the Kara Sea. Field studies of internal tides in the Kara Gates were performed in 1997, 2007, and 2015. In 2015, we analyzed data from towed CTD measurements, numerical model calculations, and satellite images in the region. An internal tidal wave with a period of 12.4 h is generated due to the interaction between the currents of the barotropic tide and the bottom relief on the slopes of a ridge that crosses the strait from Novaya Zemlya to the continent. The depths of the ridge crest are 30–40 m. A constant current of relatively warm water flows from the Barents to the Kara Sea. An internal wave propagates in both directions from the ridge. In the Barents Sea, internal waves are intensified by the current from the Barents to the Kara Sea. Internal bores followed by a packet of short-period internal waves are found in both directions from the strait. Satellite images show that short-period internal waves are generated after the internal bore. A hydraulic jump was found on the eastern side of the strait. Numerical modeling agrees with the experimental results.     

On the use of a two-layer fluid stratification model in studies of topographically-generated baroclinic tides

Internal waves generated by a baroclinic internal wave impinging on an oceanic ridge are studied. Two stratification models are considered: a two-layer ocean model (with a density jump) and a continuously stratified ocean model (model pycnocline). The results yielded by different stratification models are compared analytically. The analysis makes possible the application of a piecewise-constant approximation of the fluid stratification to study topographically-generated baroclinic tides. Translated by V. Puchkin.     

内波远距离传播演化的实验研究

为了研究内波远距离传播过程中的演化规律,本文采用图像测速法(PIV)分别对内波近场和远场的速度场进行测量。实验中同时采用两台CCD相机对实验区域进行拍摄,根据实验结果对内波能量和垂向模态结构进行计算分析。实验结果表明,在近场区域生成的内波主要表现为内波射线结构。内波射线在经过海表面反射后,其能量在空间上出现非对称结构,能量在加强区域较减弱区增加约15%。在远场,内波射线结构不再清晰,内波主要表现为低模态内波结构。内波射线在反射时能量衰减显著,损失约为50%;低模态内波可以离开内波生成源地远距离传播,传播过程中能量损失较小,在远场传播过程中(第一模态内波半波长的距离)能量损失约20%。低模态内波的传播相速度介于垂向第一模态和第二模态相速度之间。     

Origin of the marine magnetic quiet zones in the Labrador and Greenland Seas

The central part of the northern Labrador Sea is a magnetic quiet zone, and is flanked by regions exhibiting well developed linear magnetic anomalies older than anomaly 24. The quiet zone dies out progressively to the south, where it becomes possible to correlate anomalies between adjacent profiles. A 45 degree change in spreading direction at anomaly 25 time was accompanied by a major jump in ridge position and orientation. As a consequence of this reorganisation, spreading in the northern Labrador Sea next occurred within a rift that was oriented at 45 degrees to the spreading direction, while to the south spreading occurred within in a rift that was orientated at 90 degrees to the spreading direction. Obliquity of spreading changed, between these limits, progressively along the ridge. The quiet zone may be present to the north because the oblique northern geometry resulted in a fragmented ridge composed of many small-offset transform faults joining many short spreading ridge segments. Each magnetic source block produced by magnetisation of sea floor at these small ridge segments will be surrounded by similar small blocks that have opposite polarity, so that none can be resolved at the sea surface. Supporting evidence comes from multi-channel seismic profiles across the Labrador Sea, which show that the basement is more textured within the quiet zone than outside, suggesting the presence of numerous small fracture zones in the quiet zone.A magnetic quiet zone is present in the northern Greenland Sea between margins that are oblique to the spreading direction. In contrast, there are clear lineated magnetic patterns in adjacent areas to north and south where the margins are orthogonal to the spreading direction. This quiet zone may also be due to the geometry of spreading.     

Study of intensive internal waves in the shelf zone of Morocco

Conditions for generating a train of intensive internal waves and a solitary internal wave, as well as the evolution and dissipation of shelf waves have been studied using temperature measurements at six buoy moorings and an array of distributed temperature meters towed in the Morocco shelf zone. Waves of each type have been numerically simulated. The paper's focus is the generation of a baroclinic tide in a shelf zone and the occurrence of a packet of intensive internal waves on the back slope of a baroclinic wave. Besides, it studies the mechanism responsible for the generation of a solitary internal wave of soliton type. Thein situ data and the model data are matched up and shown to be consistent, in terms of quality and quantity. Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Tectonic effects of a subducting aseismic ridge: The subduction of the Nazca Ridge at the Peru Trench

A 1987 survey of the offshore Peru forearc using the SeaMARC II seafloor mapping system reveals that subduction of the Nazca Ridge has resulted in uplift of the lowermost forearc by as much as 1500 m. This uplift is seen in the varied depths of two forearc terraces opposite the subducting ridge. Uplift of the forearc has caused fracturing, minor surficial slumping, and increased erosion through small canyons and gullies. Oblique trending linear features on the forearc may be faults with a strike-slip component of motion caused by the oblique subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The trench in the zone of ridge subduction is nearly linear, with no re-entrant in the forearc due to subduction of the Nazca Ridge. Compressional deformation of the forearc due to subduction of the ridge is relatively minor, suggesting that the gently sloping Nazca Ridge is able to slide beneath the forearc without significantly deforming it. The structure of the forearc is similar to that revealed by other SeaMARC II surveys to the north, consisting of: 1) a narrow zone (10 to 15 km across) of accreted material making up the lower forearc; 2) a chaotic middle forearc; 3) outcropping consolidated material and draping sediment on the upper forearc; and 4) the smooth, sedimented forearc shelf.The subducting Nazca plate and the Nazca Ridge are fractured by subduction-induced faults with offsets of up to 500 m. Normal faulting is dominant and begins about 50 km from the trench axis, increasing in frequency and offset toward the trench. These faults are predominantly trench-parallel. Reverse faults become more common in the deepest portion of the trench and often form at slight angles to the trench axis.Intrusive and extrusive volcanic areas on the Nazca plate appear to have formed well after the seafloor was created at the ridge crest. Many of the areas show evidence of current scour and are cut by faulting, however, indicating that they formed before the seafloor entered the zone of subduction-induced faulting.