Studies of Internal Wave/Mean Flow Interactions
Abstract
A laboratory facility to observe internal gravity wave/mean flow interactions is described, and results from experiments are presented. The laboratory measurements include density measurements, instantaneous and mean velocity measurements, and shadowgraph observations. The results show that early wavebreaking in turbulent critical layers is characterized by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and is not convective, as reported in earlier studies. The vertical location of the early over-turning moves progressively toward the gravity wave source and is correlated with observed mean flow modifications. Late-time gravity wave/critical layer interactions are characterized by steady-state mixing regions which are phase-locked to incoming gravity waves. Results from numerical simulations are also presented and are qualitatively similar to the early-time laboratory measurements. Keywords: Atmosphere models; Internal gravity waves; Mean flow; Shear interactions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 27, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA199949
Entities
People
- Donald P. Delisi
Organizations
- Northwest Research Associates