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.     

苏禄—苏拉威西海内孤立波动力参数时空变化特征

基于弱非线性理论及再分析同化数据,计算了苏禄—苏拉威西海冬季及夏季内孤立波动力参数,包括内孤立波线性速度、一阶和二阶非线性参数及线性色散参数,并研究了这些参数的时空变化特征。我们发现,虽然苏拉威西海域受到更加显著的西北太平洋水入侵,但苏禄海内孤立波动力参数的时空变化特征却比苏拉威西海更为显著。夏季苏禄海内孤立波线性速度总体上比冬季约大0.1m·s^–1;与此相反,夏季苏拉威西海内孤立波线性速度却比冬季约小0.05m·s^–1。无论是一阶或二阶非线性动力参数,其在苏拉威西海的时空变化均比较微弱,但在苏禄海则较为显著。苏禄海夏季一阶非线性动力参数比冬季高出约3×10^–3s^–1,但是夏季二阶非线性动力参数却比1月份低约3×10^–5m^–1·s^–1。此外,相比冬季,夏季苏禄海和苏拉威西海的色散动力参数均有所减弱,但其在苏禄海减弱的幅度更大。综上,苏禄—苏拉威西海环流引起的水体层化最大浮力频率所在深度的时空变化是造成上述内孤立波动力参数时空变化的根本...     

抛物线型背景流对内孤立波特征和能量影响的数值模拟研究

本文基于南海东北部观测的抛物线型背景流,设计了8种形式的抛物线型背景流,利用IGW模式研究了其对内孤立波(ISW)的特征和能量学的影响。研究结果表明:背景流对波包中ISW数目没有影响,但减小了ISW的相速度;对于下边界在主温跃层附近或在其上的抛物线型背景流,ISW振幅和最大位移深度均增加;随着抛物背景流曲率减小,ISW振幅、斜压与正压能比值减小,同时ISW相速度、正压能、斜压能、KE/APE都增加;如果抛物背景流底部延伸至海底,且曲率减小,则ISW振幅、相速度减小,同时正压能、斜压能、KE/APE增加;在整个深度上的背景流,随着下层曲率减小和上层曲率增大,ISW振幅、相速度、斜压与正压能比值、斜压能、KE/APE均增加。     

Mooring observed mode-2 internal solitary waves in the northern South China Sea

The mode-2 internal solitary waves (ISWs) generated by mode-2 internal tide (IT) are identified by mooring observations in the northern South China Sea (SCS) from 2016 to 2017. Two mode-2 ISWs with a re-appearance period of 24.9 h observed on 29 and 30 July 2016 are characterized by type-b ISWs. They occurred when the isotherms compressed obviously in the vertical direction. Modal decomposition of IT horizontal currents shows that the vertical compression of the isotherms is mainly caused by diurnal mode-2 IT. The analysis of the role of the density stratification reveals that a deeper and thinner pycnocline is favorable for generation of mode-2 ISWs rather than pycnocline intensity. By comparing the mode-2 nonlinear, dispersion coefficients and the Ursell numbers calculated based on the stratification associated with different kinds of ITs with the observation results, it is shown that the diurnal mode-2 IT plays a crucial role in the generation of the mode-2 ISWs. When the diurnal mode-2 IT interacts with the semidiurnal IT and causes a deeper and thinner pycnocline, the mode-2 ISWs are easily excited.     

Effects of westward shoaling pycnocline on characteristics and energetics of internal solitary wave in the Luzon Strait by numerical simulations

An internal gravity wave model was employed to simulate the generation of internal solitary waves(ISWs) over a sill by tidal flows. A westward shoaling pycnocline parameterization scheme derived from a three-parameter model was adopted, and then 14 numerical experiments were designed to investigate the influence of the pycnocline thickness, density difference across the pycnocline, westward shoaling isopycnal slope angle and pycnocline depth on the ISWs. When the pycnocline thickness on both sides of the sill increases, the total barotropic kinetic energy, total baroclinic energy and ratio of baroclinic kinetic energy(KE) to available potential energy(APE) decrease, whilst the depth of isopycnal undergoing maximum displacement and ratio of baroclinic energy to barotropic energy increase. When the density difference on both sides of the sill decreases synchronously, the total barotropic kinetic energy, ratio of baroclinic energy to barotropic energy and total baroclinic energy decrease, whilst the depth of isopycnal undergoing maximum displacement increases. When the westward shoaling isopycnal slope angle increases, the total baroclinic energy increases whilst the depth of turning point almost remains unchanged. When the depth of westward shoaling pycnocline on both sides of the sill reduces, the ratio of baroclinic energy to barotropic energy and total baroclinic energy decrease, whilst the total barotropic kinetic energy and ratio of KE to APE increase. When one of the above four different influencing factors was increased by 10% while the other factors keep unchanged, the amplitude of the leading soliton in ISW Packet A was decreased by 2.80%, 7.47%, 3.21% and 6.42% respectively. The density difference across the pycnocline and the pycnocline depth are the two most important factors in affecting the characteristics and energetics of ISWs.     

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.     

南海北部陆架区内孤立波向岸传播过程研究

南海北部是全球海洋中内孤立波最强和最为活跃的海域。然而,内孤立波在传入陆架区后,其形态发生显著变化,其传播演变过程表现出高度的复杂性。本研究综合卫星图像和数值模式手段研究了内孤立波在向岸传播过程中的空间变化特征。可见光卫星图像研究结果显示,南海北部陆架区存在三种形态的内孤立波,分别为第一模态下凹型内孤立波、第一模态上凸型内孤立波和第二模态内孤立波。受水深和层结变化的控制,它们的分布区域显著不同。基于MITgcm的数值模拟研究表明,上凸型内孤立波由第一模态下凹内孤立波经过极性转换过程发展而来,而第二模态内孤立波由第一模态下凹内孤立波与急剧变浅地形相互作用而产生。     

Assessment of theoretical approaches to derivation of internal solitary wave parameters from multi-satellite images near the Dongsha Atoll of the South China Sea

This study assesses the accuracy and the applicability of the Korteweg-de Vries(KdV) and the nonlinear Schr?dinger(NLS) equation solutions to derivation of dynamic parameters of internal solitary waves(ISWs) from satellite images. Visible band images taken by five satellite sensors with spatial resolutions from 5 m to 250 m near the Dongsha Atoll of the northern South China Sea(NSCS) are used as a baseline. From the baseline, the amplitudes of ISWs occurring from July 10 to 13, 2017 are estimate...     

Experimental investigation of the load exerted by nonstationary internal solitary waves on a submerged slender body over a slope

Laboratory experiments are performed in a large stratified fluid flume to examine the characteristics of the load on a submerged slender body that is exerted by a nonstationary internal solitary wave (ISW) from its interaction with a gentle slope. The nonstationary ISW over the slope and its load on the body are measured by using multi-channel conductivity-probe arrays and a specially designed force measurement device, respectively, and the body’s vertical and horizontal positions on the load are determined by analyzing the effects of the incident ISW’s amplitude. The experimental results show that the load on the slender body increases as the incident ISW’s amplitude increases; additionally, the effect of oscillations is enhanced because of the ISW’s distortion, breaking and fission. The oscillating action from fission waves becomes dominant as the amplitude reaches a certain value. Additionally, the load is correlated with body’s vertical position relative to the pycnocline. The magnitudes of the vertical and horizontal forces reach a maximum and minimum in the pycnocline, respectively, and the horizontal force in this direction is the opposite above and below the pycnocline. Compared to a case without a slope, the load on the slender body increases because of the nonstationary ISW, and its effect on the maximum force is transferred to the pycnocline. When the body’s horizontal position is located close to the top of the slope, the direction of the horizontal and vertical forces remains consistent, but its acting time becomes longer. In addition, high-frequency actions on the slender body are impacted by nonstationary ISWs near the slope’s top.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

南海北部陆坡区内孤立波的垂向热量输送

An integrated analysis of internal solitary wave(ISW) observations obtained from two moorings over the continental slope in the northern South China Sea(SCS) leads to an assessment of the vertical heat transport of the ISWs. The clusters of ISW packets are phase-locked to the fortnightly cycle of the semidiurnal tide. The ISWs appear during large semidiurnal tides, and there is a period of 5–6 d when no ISWs are observed. The effect of the ISWs on the continental slope heat budget is observed. The ISWs can modify a local temperature field in which the temperature in the upper layer can be changed by O(100) °C after the ISWs passed the mooring. Both ISWinduced diffusion and ISW-induced advection contribute to the temperature variation. The estimates imply an average vertical heat flux of 0.01 to 0.1 MW/m~2 in the ISWs in the upper 500 m of the water column. The vertical heat transport ranges from 0.56 to 2.83 GJ/m~2 with a mean value of 1.63 GJ/m~2. The observations suggest that the vertical heat transport is proportional to the maximum vertical displacement.     

Remote sensing survey and research on internal solitary waves in the South China Sea-Western Pacific-East Indian Ocean (SCS-WPAC-EIND)

Internal solitary waves (ISWs) are common mesoscale dynamic processes in the ocean that are spread throughout the world’s oceans. The South China Sea (SCS), Western Pacific (WPAC) and Indian Ocean (EIND) (SCS-WPAC-EIND) are areas where ISWs frequently occur. In particular, in the northern part of the South China Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, Andaman Sea, Lombok Strait and northeastern part of Taiwan Island, ISWs exist almost year-round. Remote sensing is an important technique to carry out investigations and research on ISWs on a large scale. In particular, optical sensors represented by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) can observe ISWs for a long time and on a large scale, while SAR sensors such as Sentinel-1 A/B can compensate for the deficiencies in optical sensors and comprehensively observe ISWs. Based on many years of remote sensing surveys of ISWs, this paper uses MODIS and Sentinel-1 satellite remote sensing images of more than 70 000 scenes from 2010 to 2020 to carry out survey studies of ISWs in the SCS-WPAC-EIND. The survey systematically gives the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of ISWs in the SCS-WPAC-EIND and focuses on the analysis of the ISW characteristics in main areas in the SCS-WPAC-EIND, thereby providing basic data for further research on ISWs.     

青岛外海潮致第二模内孤立波的观测研究

根据在青岛附近海域开展的现场观测数据介绍了一种可能的新的第二模内孤立波的产生机制。温度链观测数据显示在2 h内孤立波特征由显著的第一模内孤立波变为了显著的第二模内孤立波。所观测到的第二模内孤立波的波面起伏和它的垂直结构同KdV(Korteweg-de Vries)方程的理论结果吻合良好,对应涨潮引起的内波非线性系数、频散系数以及Ursell数的变化和第二模内孤立波的产生相匹配。这些结果表明,所观测到的第二模内孤立波可能是由于涨潮导致的局地层结快速变化引起的。进一步分析表明,局地层结快速变化可能由潮汐推动黄海冷水团边缘锋面移动引起。     

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。     

一种基于Curvelet变换的合成孔径雷达海洋内波图像的斑点噪声抑制方法

合成孔径雷达是海洋内波研究中最重要的工具之一。雷达图像中的斑点噪声会严重降低图像的质量,这一问题在处理和分析信号较弱的二模态内波信号和上升型内波信号时极为明显。合成孔径雷达图像中的海洋内孤立波的信号具有明显的尺度性和方向性。同时,curvelet变换作为一种同时具备尺度分辨率和方向分辨率的数学变换,能够对一幅雷达图像在不同尺度、不同方向和不同位置上进行分析。本文给出了一个基于curvelet变换的合成孔径雷达海洋内孤立波图像的斑点噪声抑制方法。该方法可简述为：(1)对一幅合成孔径雷达海洋内孤立波图像进行curvelet变换,获得curvelet系数;(2)分别仅仅保留一个尺度的系数,将其它尺度的系数置为零,利用处理之后的系数分别重建图像,得到仅仅用一个尺度的系数重建的图像;(3)分别计算上一步中得到的图像的均方差,根据波浪理论,图像的方差代表能量,方差越大则能量越大,以此可以确定内波信息集中的尺度;(4)在每个尺度下,分别计算每个方向的curvelet系数矩阵的平均值,以此确定内孤立波信号集中的方向;(5)在上两步工作的基础上,仅仅保留内波信号集中的尺度和方向的系数,而将其它尺度和方向的系数置为0,得到一幅提取主波信息的图像;(6)将上一步得到的提取主波信息的图像加回到原始图像中,从而达到增强波浪信息并抑制斑点噪声的目的。大量的实验验证表明,该方法不仅能有效地压制斑点噪声,而且能有效地增强波浪信号。     

光滑表面内孤立波光学遥感图像的实验研究

基于光学遥感图像的内孤立波参数反演是一项重要的工作。本文在实验室条件下提出一种新方法用于模拟光滑表面情况下内孤立波的光学遥感成像。基于二维内波水槽、LED平板面光源和CCD相机搭建仿真光学遥感系统探测内孤立波。水平表面的光学遥感图像和垂向内孤立波传播图像被同时探测,旨在探讨在光滑表面下,光学遥感与内孤立波的响应。结果表明,内孤立波传播经过时,CCD1相机获得暗纹,暗纹的特性随光源入射角的变化而变化。光学遥感特征参数和垂向波要素相对应。实验还显示光学遥感图像的暗纹宽度与内孤立波的半波宽度在不同内孤立波振幅下呈现正相关关系。该系统有着现象清晰,重复性高的优点,为定量研究光学遥感成像机理提供科学依据。     

内孤立波过陆架陆坡地形的数值模拟研究

内波是海洋中普遍存在的波动形式。内孤立波是典型的非线性内波,多发于陆架边缘海,如南海等海域,对陆架海域有重要影响。本文针对内孤立波在陆架地形上的传播问题,先基于弱非线性与全非线性数值模型,模拟了不同振幅、地形高度条件下内孤立波的演化的过程,探讨了动力系数对内孤立波演化过程的影响,对比了两模型的模拟结果在内孤立波演化过程、能量分配以及能量耗散的差异,后分析了南海的动力系数分布特征。结果表明,在内孤立波不发生破碎的情况下,弱非线性模型与全非线性模拟结果相近。当发生破碎过程时,弱非线性模型可准确模拟头波,但无法通过强非线性的破碎过程耗散能量,只能以裂变的方式辐射能量。在弱非线性模型中,随地形高度增加,频散系数减小到零,平方非线性系数由负转正,立方非线性系数绝对值增大一个量级,并主导陆架地形上内孤立波的演化过程。通过对比南海夏季与冬季非线性内波动力系数空间分布,发现内孤立波在传播过程由于夏季平方非线性效应、立方非线性效应与频散效应较强的影响,其在夏季更易发生陡化与裂变,波列发生频率高。     

A 2D-numerical modeling of the generation and propagation of internal solitary waves in the Luzon Strait

The wide presence of internal solitary waves (ISWs) in the northern South China Sea (SCS) has been confirmed by both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images and in situ observations. These ISWs are believed being generated over the varying topography in the Luzon Strait. They typically propagate westwards into the SCS with a diurnal or semidiurnal period. Their generation sites are, however, not yet solidly identified. To obtain a clear picture of the ISWs, we designed numerical experiments to analyze the generation and propagation of the ISWs in the Luzon Strait using a 2-dimensional non-hydrostatic model. The model current is forced by barotropic or baroclinic currents imposed at open boundaries. The experiments show that the tidal current serves as a kind of triggering force for the ISWs over the submarine ridges in the strait. Under the forcing of tidal currents, depressions are formed near the ridges. The ISWs then split from the depressions through a process different from lee-wave generation mechanism. The appearance of the ISWs is influenced by the strength and period of the forcing current:the ISWs are more likely to be generated by a stronger tidal current. That is why the ISWs in the Luzon Strait are frequently observed during spring tide. Compared with diurnal tidal current, the ISWs generated by semidiurnal tidal current with the same amplitude is much more energetic. It is partly because that the wave beams in diurnal frequency have a larger angle with the vertical direction, thus are more likely to be reflected by the topography slope. The impact of the Kuroshio to the ISWs is also analyzed by adding a vertical uniform or shear current at boundaries. A vertically uniform current may generate ISWs directly. On the other hand, a vertically shear current, which is more realistic to represent the Kuroshio branch, seems to have little influence on the generation process and radiating direction of the ISWs in the Luzon Strait.