Generation of internal waves in the sea by local perturbations of wind and density flows on the surface

On the basis of a nonlinear model taking into account viscosity, density diffusion, and currents, we perform the numerical analysis of propagation of perturbations formed in the abyssal part of the Black Sea as a result of the action of tangential wind stresses or density flows in the form of a strip on the sea surface. It is shown that, in the course of time, in the region of the bottom slope, these perturbations generate a train of waves in the sea, which causes oscillations of the fields of density and currents. There are some differences between the generation of internal waves by the flows of density and the wind. Unlike the wind action, in the presence of flows of density in the upper layer in the region of the strip, the initial period of generation is characterized by the formation of intense perturbations without train structure. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Numerical investigation of the influence of various factors on the propagation and transformation of solitary waves in the sea

For various stratifications and different types of bottom patterns we study the transformations of solitary perturbations of density appearing in the depth of the sea. In the two-dimensional case, under the assumption that the average dynamic characteristics weakly vary in time as compared with the wave characteristics, we deduce the equations for mean currents and waves taking into account vertical and horizontal viscosity and the diffusion of density. Numerical examples show that the stratification, bottom topography, nonlinearity, mean currents, and dissipation strongly affect both the process of splitting of a solitary wave into wave trains and their amplitude and length. The wave currents exhibit the oscillatory (train-like) character. It is emphasized that, in the case of propagation of solitary perturbations of density with dissipation, it is also important to take into account the combined influence of nonlinearity, currents, bottom topography, and stratification. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Turbulent diffusion of impurities in the ocean in the presence of internal waves

We study the influence of baroclinic tidal waves on the diffusion of an impurity spot in a continuously stratified fluid. The equation of turbulent diffusion is solved numerically by taking into account the wave currents. We establish the dependences of the characteristics of the diffusion process on parameters of baroclinic waves and the location of the impurity spot. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

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     

Manifestations of water dynamics in the coastal zone in the field of breaking of wind waves

In the coastal zone, as a result of mixing of waters, it is difficult to identify turbulent phenomena with a spatial scale of 0.1–1 km accompanied by strong vertical flows according to the data of measuring temperature. On the basis of the data of direct measurements, it is shown that turbulent structures are well pronounced in the field of breaking of wind waves. We deduce empirical estimates of the response of the intensity of wave breaking to the magnitude of divergence of the current and develop a theoretical model of the influence of inhomogeneities of currents on wave breaking capable of describing the experimental data. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

On the influence of a diurnal baroclinic tide on the diffusion of an impurity

We investigate the influence of baroclinic tidal waves on the diffusion of an impurity spot in a continuously stratified liquid. The equation of turbulent diffusion is solved numerically by taking into account the wave currents. We establish the dependences of the characteristics of the diffusion process on the parameters of the baroclinic wave and the location of the impurity spot. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Generation of internal waves by a barotropic tide in the coastal zone

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves, we study internal waves generated by a barotropic tide in a two-layer ocean of variable depth taking into account the influence of the Coriolis force. Barotropic waves run over an extended unevenness of the bottom at an arbitrary angle. This unevenness is regarded as a model of the continental slope and shelf. We establish the dependences of the amplitudes of generated internal waves on the angle of incidence of the barotropic tide, topography of the bottom, and stratification. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Structure and kinematics of waters in the region of the Argentine Islands in the autumn of 1998

On the basis of the data of the complex oceanographic experiment carried out in the course of the second Ukrainian Antarctic expedition in March 1998, we study the structure and kinematics of waters in the region of the archipelago of Argentine Islands. The regularities of thermohaline stratification of waters are discovered. We determine the most important environmental parameters premoting the variability of hydrophysical fields on time scales varying from several days up to a week, analyse the data of actual observations over the currents, and estimate the relative contribtions of diurnal and semidiurnal tidal waves to the total dispersion of hydrophysical parameters of the environment. The residual currents are filtered out. We propose a hypothesis about the mechanism of their formation. Various types of tidal currents are revealed and the directions of propagation of diurnal and semidiurnal tidal waves are determined. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Dispersion relation of internal waves in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean

Based mainly on TOGA COARE data, that is, the CI''D data from R/V Xiangyanghong No.5 (Pu et al.,1993),the temperature and current data from the Woods Hole mooring and other deep current data, the layered numerical profiles of buoyancy frequency and mean current components are figured out.A numerical method calculating internal wave dispersion relation without background shear current, used by Fliegel and Hunkins (1975),is improved to be fit for the internal wave equation with mean currents and their second derivatives.The dispersion relations and wave functions of the long crested internal wave progressing in any direction can be calculated inveniently by using the improved method.A comparison between the calculated dispersion relation in the paper and the dispersion relation in GM spectral model of ocean internal waves (Garret and Munk, 1972) is performed.It shows that the mean currents are important to the dispersion relation of internal waves in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean and that the currents make the wave progressing co-directional with (against) the currents stretched (shrink).The influence of the mean currents on dispersion relation is much stronger than that of their second derivatives, but that on wave function is less than that of their second derivatives.The influences on wave functions result in the change of vertical wavenumber, that is, making the wave function stretch or shrink.There exists obvious turning depth but no significant critical layer absorption is found.     

Satellite observations of surface manifestations of internal waves in the Caspian Sea

Results of satellite observations of surface manifestations of internal waves in the Caspian Sea are presented. It is proposed that the possible cause of generation of the revealed internal waves is uninodal seiches with a nodal line located in the vicinity of the Apsheron Sill. The basic parameters of internal waves in the Caspian Sea, having the form of classical soliton trains, are determined. Seasonal variability of surface manifestations of the internal waves is revealed. The horizontal current velocity of the solitons is assessed. According to the estimation, velocity is about 0.2 m/s, which is sufficient for wind ripple modulation.     

Simulation of wind currents in Sevastopol bays

We the discuss the results of modelling wind currents in the system of Sevastopol bays. Numerical calculations are carried out according to the model of Felzenbaum. It is shown that the decisive role in the formation of distinctive features of circulation of waters and the essentially three-dimenstional character of currents in this part of the sea is played by the bottom topography and the direction of winds. These distinctive features are demonstrated for the cases where the motion is induced by the northeast and northwest winds. In the Sevastopol bays, we discovered the existence of jet longshore currents, vortex character of integral circulation, and intense processes of upwelling and downwelling. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Characteristics of the mixing effect of small-scale internal waves in the upper layer of the Black Sea according to the data of fine-structure sounding

A method of statistical separation of fine-structure fluctuations according to their origin is applied to the analysis of the characteristics of mixing in a layer located below the summer temperature minimum in the Black Sea. The simplification of the procedure of numerical evaluation of the coefficient of vertical wave exchange enabled us to perform the comprehensive fine-structure processing of the data of regular surveys of the Black Sea with an aim to determine the spatial distribution of the field intensity of small-scale internal waves and the intensity of mixing caused by these waves in the analyzed layer. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Generation of internal waves in a three-layer ocean

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves taking into account the action of the Coriolis force, we solve the problem of generation of internal waves by a barotropic tide impinging on a bottom irregularity of the sea-ridge type. The cross section of the ridge is assumed to be rectangular and the stratification of the ocean is regarded as stepwise with two thermoclines (three-layer model). We study the dependences of the characteristics of generated waves on the parameters of stratification and the period of the impinging barotropic tide. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Investigation of transformations of barotropic tides in the coastal zone

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves, we perform the numerical investigation of transformations of a barotropic diurnal tide in the process of its motion from the deepwater region of the sea into the region of continental slope and shelf zone at any angle to the coast line. For a linear profile of the bottom of the continental slope and shelf, we establish dependences of the amplitudes and velocities of waves on the direction of propagation of the tidal wave and the latitude of the place. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Trapped bottom topographic waves over the inclined bottom

In the Boussinesq approximation, we study baroclinic topographic waves trapped by the flat meridional slope. The existence of these waves is explained by stratification, inclined bottom, and Earth's rotation. We deduce the evolutionary equation for the square of the envelope of a narrow-band wave packet of trapped waves. In the second order of smallness relative to the wave amplitude, we find the mean fields of velocity and density induced by the packet. It is shown that, in the limiting case of weakly nonlinear plane waves, the induced current is zonal. In the Northern hemisphere, depending on the slope of the bottom γ₁, the sign of the phase velocity σ/k (k is the zonal wave number) is either always positive (for γ₁>γ_1cr) or always negative (for γ₁<γ_1cr). If we neglect the vertical component of the Coriolis acceleration, then γ_1cr=0. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Analysis of the intensification of tsunami waves near the South Coast of Crimea

We perform the numerical analysis of the intensification of tsunami waves in the course of their propagation from the open part of the Black Sea to the shelf zone. For this purpose, we use a one-dimensional model of nonlinear long waves taking into account the effect of bottom friction. We study four profiles of the bottom corresponding to the south coast of the Crimean Peninsula and establish the predominant role of the bottom pattern and insignificant contribution of nonlinearity to the transformation of waves in the process of their propagation in the direction of the coast. Down to depths of 50 m, all changes in the height of waves are described by the Green law. For the evaluation of vertical run-up of waves, it is important to take into account nonlinear effects. The highest vertical run-ups of waves are observed in the parts of the shelf zone located near Yalta and Alushta. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Variability of internal tides in the coastal water area of Oahu Island (Hawaii)

The variability of the parameters of semidiurnal internal tides in Mamala Bay (Oahu Island, Hawaii) was investigated using the experimental data obtained with ADCP bottom current profilers and ther-mistor strings. It was stated that the size, shape, and orientation of the orbits, as well as the sign of the rotation of the orbital currents, are rarely similar to those characteristic of progressive internal waves on a rotating Earth. It is supposed that such unusual features of the orbital currents are related to the interference of the waves that arrive from the straits rimming Oahu Island and to the waves that, under favorable conditions, are episodically generated at the shelf edge of Mamala Bay. Due to the fact that the floor inclinations of the shelf in the bay are supercritical for semidiurnal internal tides, the local generation of internal tides is poorly efficient.     

Experimental evaluation of the characteristics of vertical mixing in an oceanic thermohalocline on the basis of fine-structure spectra of advection, salt fingers, and small-scale internal waves

We describe a differential approach to the spectral composition of thin thermohaline inhomogeneities in the ocean depending on the mechanisms responsible for their generation and demonstrate the possibilities of this approach in getting realistic hydrophysical results. The statistical classification of fine-structure fluctuations according to their origin is performed on the basis of the joint analysis of the temperature, salinity, and density spectra computed in a section of the vertical profile where the variation of mean gradients of all three parameters is insignificant. On the basis of the constructed mean spectrum of wave elevations, we estimate the dissipative characteristics of the convection of salt fingers and small-scale internal waves. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Evaluation of the influence of surface films on short wind waves and the characteristics of the boundary layer of the atmosphere

With the help of a combined model of wind and waves, we study the influence of films of surfactants on the spectrum of short wind waves and the parameters of the lowest layer of the atmosphere. It is shown that the films of surfactants decrease the roughness of the sea surface as a result of suppression of short wind waves, which decreases the coefficient of resistance of the sea surface and the coefficient of turbulent heat exchange. The maximum influence of films on the exchange coefficients is attained forU∼10 m/s. In this case, the relative decrements of the coefficients of resistance and turbulent heat exchange are equal to 15 and 9%, respectively. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev UDC 551.46     

Distributed thermoprofilometers and their capabilities in oceanographic investigations

We describe the principles of design of distributed thermoprofilometers and analyze their characteristics and the required hardware, algorithms, and software. The capabilities of these instruments in the investigation of temperature fields, vertical displacements, and the parameters of internal waves are evaluated. The results of measurements and numerical calculations are presented. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev