Nonlinear Internal Waves - A Wave-Tracking Experiment to Assess Nonlinear Internal Wave Generation, Structure, Evolution and Dissipation over the NJ Shelf / Analysis

摘要

The thrust of this project is the investigation of non-linear internal waves which appear as waves of depression when propagating on a near- surface interface and as waves of elevation when propagating on a near-bottom interface. Waves of depression will initiate the generation of waves of elevation as they propagate into shallow water where the interface depth below the surface nears its height above bottom. We have had the good fortune to observe (by shipboard wave-tracking and from bottom moorings) both waves of depression and of elevation propagating inshore from the Oregon shelf break into shallow water. We have now also had the further good fortune to make systematic and comprehensive studies of the generation, structure, evolution and dissipation of non-linear internal waves over the New Jersey shelf within the context of the heavily-instrumented combined acoustic / environmental array deployed in summer 2006. The long-term goal of this program is to understand the physics of small-scale oceanic processes including internal waves, hydraulics, turbulence and microstructure that act to perturb and control the circulation in coastal oceans and, in doing so, affect the propagation of sound and light. Ongoing studies within the Ocean Mixing Group at OSU emphasize observations, interaction with turbulence modelers and an aggressive program of sensor / instrumentation development and integration.