We propose a semi-analytic approach to estimate mixing induced by internal solitary waves (ISWs) breaking over a sloping boundary. The theoretical framework we develop describes the energetics of a stratified fluid flow during the interaction of ISWs with a slope. In particular, through both Ozmidov and Thorpe lengthscales we derive a heuristic expression for mixing efficiency, valid for plunging and plungingcollapsing breakers. On the other hand, we perform laboratory experiments that also provide mixing efficiency by estimating both changes of the background potential energy and the incident and reflected ISWs energy. We then compare those results with the ones derived by our theoretical model, obtaining a power law that relates the two quantities. This function allows to estimate mixing efficiency when the change in the background potential energy due to the ISWs breaking is unknown. We finally successfully apply our model to estimate the mixing efficiency under real field conditions

Mixing Efficiency for Breaking Internal Solitary Waves

Giovanni la Forgia;Davide Cavaliere
;
Claudia Adduce;Federico Falcini
2021

Abstract

We propose a semi-analytic approach to estimate mixing induced by internal solitary waves (ISWs) breaking over a sloping boundary. The theoretical framework we develop describes the energetics of a stratified fluid flow during the interaction of ISWs with a slope. In particular, through both Ozmidov and Thorpe lengthscales we derive a heuristic expression for mixing efficiency, valid for plunging and plungingcollapsing breakers. On the other hand, we perform laboratory experiments that also provide mixing efficiency by estimating both changes of the background potential energy and the incident and reflected ISWs energy. We then compare those results with the ones derived by our theoretical model, obtaining a power law that relates the two quantities. This function allows to estimate mixing efficiency when the change in the background potential energy due to the ISWs breaking is unknown. We finally successfully apply our model to estimate the mixing efficiency under real field conditions
2021
Istituto di Scienze Marine - ISMAR - Sede Secondaria Roma
Heuristic model to quantify mixing induced by breaking internal solitary waves (ISWs)
Experimental estimation of the change in the total background potential energy
Prediction of the mixing efficiency for breaking ISWs
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/517941
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