A laboratory study of the e?ect of wave action on turbulent gravity currents generated by an instantaneous release of dense fluid is described. Dense fluid is released in the centre of the flume, generating a gravity current propagating horizontally with two fronts. This gravity current type, in the absence of waves, spreads symmetrically and propagating with the length scales according to the standard box models. In the presence of gravity waves the length of the gravity current is, to leading order unchanged, but the centre is advected in the direction of the wave motion. The shear of the mean flow generated by the oscillatory wave motion modifies the shape of the gravity current, inducing an asymmetry in the current height.
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