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The impact of multiple layering on internal wave transmission

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2016

S. J. Ghaemsaidi*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
H. V. Dosser
Affiliation:
Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
L. Rainville
Affiliation:
Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
T. Peacock
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
*
Email address for correspondence: sjsaidi@mit.edu

Abstract

Given the ubiquity of layering in environmental stratifications, an interesting example being double-diffusive staircase structures in the Arctic Ocean, we present the results of a joint theoretical and laboratory experimental study investigating the impact of multiple layering on internal wave propagation. We first present results for a simplified model that demonstrates the non-trivial impact of multiple layering. Thereafter, utilizing a weakly viscous linear model that can handle arbitrary vertical stratifications, we perform a comparison of theory with experiments. We conclude by applying this model to a case study of a staircase stratification profile obtained from the Arctic Ocean, finding a rich landscape of transmission behaviour.

Type
Papers
Copyright
© 2016 Cambridge University Press 

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