Resonant over-reflection of internal gravity waves from a thin shear layer

1981 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 349-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. J. Grimshaw

In a previous paper (Grimshaw 1979) the resonant over-reflection of internal gravity waves from a vortex sheet was considered in the weakly nonlinear regime. It was shown there that the time evolution of the amplitude of the vortex sheet displacement was balanced by a cubic nonlinearity. For one vortex sheet mode, symmetrical with respect to the interface, it was shown that a steady finite-amplitude wave was possible. For the other, asymmetric modes, a singularity develops in a finite time. In the present paper, that analysis is extended by replacing the vortex sheet with a thin shear layer of thickness α2, where α is the amplitude of the shear layer displacement. The effect of this extension is to introduce a linear growth rate term in the amplitude equation, which is otherwise unaltered. The linear growth rate can be computed from a formula due to Drazin & Howard (1966, p. 67). The effect on the modes is that the symmetric mode is linearly damped and requires sustained forcing to be observed, while the asymmetric modes are slightly destabilized by the linear term and, as in the vortex-sheet model, develop a singularity in finite time.

1979 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. J. Grimshaw

A Helmholtz velocity profile with velocity discontinuity 2U is embedded in an infinite continuously stratified Boussinesq fluid with constant Brunt—Väisälä frequency N. Linear theory shows that this system can support resonant over-reflexion, i.e. the existence of neutral modes consisting of outgoing internal gravity waves, whenever the horizontal wavenumber is less than N/2½U. This paper examines the weakly nonlinear theory of these modes. An equation governing the evolution of the amplitude of the interface displacement is derived. The time scale for this evolution is α−2, where α is a measure of the magnitude of the interface displacement, which is excited by an incident wave of magnitude O(α3). It is shown that the mode which is symmetrical with respect to the interface (and has a horizontal phase speed equal to the mean of the basic velocity discontinuity) remains neutral, with a finite amplitude wave on the interface. However, the other modes, which are not symmetrical with respect to the interface, become unstable owing to the self-interaction of the primary mode with its second harmonic. The interface displacement develops a singularity in a finite time.


Fluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Grimshaw

The linear stability theory of wind-wave generation is revisited with an emphasis on the generation of wave groups. The outcome is the fundamental requirement that the group move with a real-valued group velocity. This implies that both the wave frequency and the wavenumber should be complex-valued, and in turn this then leads to a growth rate in the reference frame moving with the group velocity which is in general different from the temporal growth rate. In the weakly nonlinear regime, the amplitude envelope of the wave group is governed by a forced nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The effect of the wind forcing term is to enhance modulation instability both in terms of the wave growth and in terms of the domain of instability in the modulation wavenumber space. Also, the soliton solution for the wave envelope grows in amplitude at twice the linear growth rate.


This paper is concerned with an analysis of the derivation of a nonlinear evolution equation governing the dynamics of a weakly unstable pertur­bation in a mixing layer. It is demonstrated that the Landau constant has no universal character and is determined by the degree of supercriticality of perturbation, whose measure is represented by the linear growth rate of instability γ (which is proportional to the departure from neutral wavenumber). It is shown that the interaction of the fundamental harmonic of the perturbation with the associated distortion of a mean flow is the dominant nonlinear effect. It is this that makes the main contribution to the Landau constant rather than the interaction with the second harmonic as was thought previously. We examine the régimes of both a viscous and a non-stationary critical layer and calculate the Landau constant. It is shown that, except for the case when the supercriticality is very small, γ « v ( v is the inverse of the Reynolds number), the nonlinearity cannot substantially influence the exponential growth of the perturbation predicted by linear theory. When γ « v , however, the nonlinear time exceeds the time of viscous spreading of the initial flow and for a correct formulation of the problem, one has, as was first pointed out by Huerre, to introduce here an artificial force field.


1993 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 922-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Elias ◽  
Dong-Jin Lee

Microborings in the Late Ordovician tabulate corals Catenipora rubra (a halysitid) and Manipora amicarum (a cateniform nonhalysitid) and in an epizoic solitary rugose coral differ from nearly all of those previously reported in Paleozoic corals. These microborings were formed within the coralla by endolithic algae and fungi located beneath living polyps. Comparable structures in the Late Ordovician tabulate Quepora ?agglomeratiformis (a halysitid) represent algal microborings, not spicules, and halysitids are corals, not sponges as suggested by Kaźmierczak (1989).Endolithic algae in cateniform tabulates relied primarily on light entering through the outer walls of the ranks rather than through the polyps; lacunae within coralla permitted appropriate levels of light to reach many corallites. The direction of boring was determined by corallum microstructure and possibly also by the distribution of organic matter within the skeleton. There is an apparent inverse correlation between boring activity and coral growth rate.The location and relative abundance of pyritized microborings within calcareous coralla can be established quantitatively and objectively from electron microprobe determinations of weight percent sulfur along appropriate traverses of the coral skeleton. The distribution of such microborings in Catenipora rubra and Manipora amicarum is comparable to algal banding in modern corals; this is the first report of such banding in the interiors of Paleozoic corals. Change in the intensity of boring within each corallum was evidently a response to variation in the linear growth rate of the coral, or to fluctuation in an environmental factor (perhaps light intensity) that could control both algal activity and growth rate in these corals. Change in the algal boring intensity and linear growth rate of the coral was generally but not always seasonal and usually but not invariably associated with change in the density of coral skeletal deposition.Cyclic bands of boring abundance maxima within fossil colonial corals provide a measure of annual linear growth comparable to the widely accepted method based on skeletal density bands. Algal bands are more sporadically developed than density bands within and among coralla, thus increasing the difficulty of interpretation. Fluctuations in the abundance of algal microborings apparently provide a detailed record of changes in the linear growth rate of colonies and of individuals within colonies. Combined analyses of microboring abundance and skeletal density will contribute significantly to our understanding of the biological and environmental factors involved in endolithic activity and coral growth.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 12247-12283
Author(s):  
P. Sabatier ◽  
J.-L. Reyss ◽  
J. M. Hall-Spencer ◽  
C. Colin ◽  
N. Frank ◽  
...  

Abstract. Here we show the use of the 210Pb-226Ra excess method to determine the growth rate of corals from one of the world's largest known cold-water coral reef, the Røst Reef off Norway. Two large branching framework-forming cold-water coral specimens, one Lophelia pertusa and one Madrepora oculata were collected alive at 350 m water depth from the Røst Reef at ~67° N and ~9° E. Pb and Ra isotopes were measured along the major growth axis of both specimens using low level alpha and gamma spectrometry and the corals trace element compositions were studied using ICP-QMS. Due to the different chemical behaviors of Pb and Ra in the marine environment, 210Pb and 226Ra were not incorporated the same way into the aragonite skeleton of those two cold-water corals. Thus to assess of the growth rates of both specimens we have here taken in consideration the exponential decrease of initially incorporated 210Pb as well as the ingrowth of 210Pb from the decay of 226Ra. Moreover a~post-depositional 210Pb incorporation is found in relation to the Mn-Fe coatings that could not be entirely removed from the oldest parts of the skeletons. The 226Ra activities in both corals were fairly constant, then assuming constant uptake of 210Pb through time the 210Pb-226Ra chronology can be applied to calculate linear growth rate. The 45.5 cm long branch of M. oculata reveals an age of 31 yr and a~linear growth rate of 14.4 ± 1.1 mm yr−1, i.e. 2.6 polyps per year. However, a correction regarding a remaining post-depositional Mn-Fe oxide coating is needed for the base of the specimen. The corrected age tend to confirm the radiocarbon derived basal age of 40 yr (using 14C bomb peak) with a mean growth rate of 2 polyps yr−1. This rate is similar to the one obtained in Aquaria experiments under optimal growth conditions. For the 80 cm-long specimen of L. pertusa a remaining contamination of metal-oxides is observed for the middle and basal part of the coral skeleton, inhibiting similar accurate age and growth rate estimates. However, the youngest branch was free of Mn enrichment and this 15 cm section reveals a growth rate of 8 mm yr−1 (~1 polyp every two to three years). However, the 210Pb growth rate estimate is within the lowermost ranges of previous growth rate estimates and may thus reflect that the coral was not developing at optimal growth conditions. Overall, 210Pb-226Ra dating can be successfully applied to determine the age and growth rate of framework-forming cold-water corals, however, removal of post-depositional Mn-Fe oxide deposits is a prerequisite. If successful, large branching M. oculata and L. pertusa coral skeletons provide unique oceanographic archive for studies of intermediate water environmentals with an up to annual time resolution and spanning over many decades.


2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 1509-1529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos A. Bakas ◽  
Petros J. Ioannou

Abstract In this paper, the emission of internal gravity waves from a local westerly shear layer is studied. Thermal and/or vorticity forcing of the shear layer with a wide range of frequencies and scales can lead to strong emission of gravity waves in the region exterior to the shear layer. The shear flow not only passively filters and refracts the emitted wave spectrum, but also actively participates in the gravity wave emission in conjunction with the distributed forcing. This interaction leads to enhanced radiated momentum fluxes but more importantly to enhanced gravity wave energy fluxes. This enhanced emission power can be traced to the nonnormal growth of the perturbations in the shear region, that is, to the transfer of the kinetic energy of the mean shear flow to the emitted gravity waves. The emitted wave energy flux increases with shear and can become as large as 30 times greater than the corresponding flux emitted in the absence of a localized shear region. Waves that have horizontal wavelengths larger than the depth of the shear layer radiate easterly momentum away, whereas the shorter waves are trapped in the shear region and deposit their momentum at their critical levels. The observed spectrum, as well as the physical mechanisms influencing the spectrum such as wave interference and Doppler shifting effects, is discussed. While for large Richardson numbers there is equipartition of momentum among a wide range of frequencies, most of the energy is found to be carried by waves having vertical wavelengths in a narrow band around the value of twice the depth of the region. It is shown that the waves that are emitted from the shear region have vertical wavelengths of the size of the shear region.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1311-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Cosgrove

Abstract. It has recently been shown, by computation of the linear growth rate, that midlatitude sporadic-E (Es) layers are subject to a large scale electrodynamic instability. This instability is a logical candidate to explain certain frontal structuring events, and polarization electric fields, which have been observed in Es layers by ionosondes, by coherent scatter radars, and by rockets. However, the original growth rate derivation assumed an infinitely thin Es layer, and therefore did not address the short wavelength cutoff. Also, the same derivation ignored the effects of F region loading, which is a significant wavelength dependent effect. Herein is given a generalized derivation that remedies both these short comings, and thereby allows a computation of the wavelength dependence of the linear growth rate, as well as computations of various threshold conditions. The wavelength dependence of the linear growth rate is compared with observed periodicities, and the role of the zeroth order meridional wind is explored. A three-dimensional paper model is used to explain the instability geometry, which has been defined formally in previous works.


1967 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Kelly

In experiments concerning the instability of free shear layers, oscillations have been observed in the downstream flow which have a frequency exactly half that of the dominant oscillation closer to the origin of the layer. The present analysis indicates that the phenomenon is due to a secondary instability associated with the nearly periodic flow which arises from the finite-amplitude growth of the fundamental disturbance.At first, however, the stability of inviscid shear flows, consisting of a non-zero mean component, together with a component periodic in the direction of flow and with time, is investigated fairly generally. It is found that the periodic component can serve as a means by which waves with twice the wavelength of the periodic component can be reinforced. The dependence of the growth rate of the subharmonic wave upon the amplitude of the periodic component is found for the case when the mean flow profile is of the hyperbolic-tangent type. In order that the subharmonic growth rate may exceed that of the most unstable disturbance associated with the mean flow, the amplitude of the streamwise component of the periodic flow is required to be about 12 % of the mean velocity difference across the shear layer. This represents order-of-magnitude agreement with experiment.Other possibilities of interaction between disturbances and the periodic flow are discussed, and the concluding section contains a discussion of the interactions on the basis of the energy equation.


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