Laboratory Modeling of Interactions between Waves and Flows in the Upper Ocean

摘要

The results of new experimental studies of waves and turbulence in stratifiedtanks are presented. Two sets of experiments are described: (1) The behavior of a stratified turbulent shear current created by a flow generator was studied in a large laboratory tank with a thermocline-type temperature stratification. Profiles of the temperature and flow velocities average over the turbulent fluctuations were measured. Then the stability of the shear flow was investigated. (2) Modulation of gravity-capillary surface waves (GCW) by internal waves was studied in a closed (oval) wave tank. A new mechanism of strong 'cascade' modulation of small-scale (millimeter to centimeter wavelength range) higher harmonics of a mechanically generated gravity wave is demonstrated.