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Generation of internal solitary waves by frontally forced intrusions in geophysical flows

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  • Daniel Bourgault

    (Institut de sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski
    Laboratoire de mécanique des fluides et d’acoustique (École Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, INSA Lyon))

  • Peter S. Galbraith

    (Institut Maurice Lamontagne, Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

  • Cédric Chavanne

    (Institut de sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski)

Abstract

Internal solitary waves are hump-shaped, large-amplitude waves that are physically analogous to surface waves except that they propagate within the fluid, along density steps that typically characterize the layered vertical structure of lakes, oceans and the atmosphere. As do surface waves, internal solitary waves may overturn and break, and the process is thought to provide a globally significant source of turbulent mixing and energy dissipation. Although commonly observed in geophysical fluids, the origins of internal solitary waves remain unclear. Here we report a rarely observed natural case of the birth of internal solitary waves from a frontally forced interfacial gravity current intruding into a two-layer and vertically sheared background environment. The results of the analysis carried out suggest that fronts may represent additional and unexpected sources of internal solitary waves in regions of lakes, oceans and atmospheres that are dynamically similar to the situation examined here in the Saguenay Fjord, Canada.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Bourgault & Peter S. Galbraith & Cédric Chavanne, 2016. "Generation of internal solitary waves by frontally forced intrusions in geophysical flows," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13606
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13606
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