Visualization and measurement of internal waves by ‘synthetic schlieren’. Part 1. Vertically oscillating cylinder

1999 ◽  
Vol 390 ◽  
pp. 93-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRUCE R. SUTHERLAND ◽  
STUART B. DALZIEL ◽  
GRAHAM O. HUGHES ◽  
P. F. LINDEN
Keyword(s):  
Density Gradient ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
Time Derivative ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Quantitative Agreement ◽  
Gradient Field ◽  
Displacement Distribution

We present measurements of the density and velocity fields produced when an oscillating circular cylinder excites internal gravity waves in a stratified fluid. These measurements are obtained using a novel, non-intrusive optical technique suitable for determining the density fluctuation field in temporally evolving flows which are nominally two-dimensional. Although using the same basic principles as conventional methods, the technique uses digital image processing in lieu of large and expensive parabolic mirrors, thus allowing more flexibility and providing high sensitivity: perturbations of the order of 1% of the ambient density gradient may be detected. From the density gradient field and its time derivative it is possible to construct the perturbation fields of density and horizontal and vertical velocity. Thus, in principle, momentum and energy fluxes can be determined.In this paper we examine the structure and amplitude of internal gravity waves generated by a cylinder oscillating vertically at different frequencies and amplitudes, paying particular attention to the role of viscosity in determining the evolution of the waves. In qualitative agreement with theory, it is found that wave motions characterized by a bimodal displacement distribution close to the source are attenuated by viscosity and eventually undergo a transition to a unimodal displacement distribution further from the source. Close quantitative agreement is found when comparing our results with the theoretical ones of Hurley & Keady (1997). This demonstrates that the new experimental technique is capable of making accurate measurements and also lends support to analytic theories. However, theory predicts that the wave beams are narrower than observed, and the amplitude is significantly under-predicted for low-frequency waves. The discrepancy occurs in part because the theory neglects the presence of the viscous boundary layers surrounding the cylinder, and because it does not take into account the effects of wave attenuation resulting from nonlinear wave–wave interactions between the upward and downward propagating waves near the source.

A Parametrization for Triad Interactions of Internal Gravity Waves in Varying Background Flows for WKBJ Ray-Tracing Methods

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Sebastian Voelker ◽  
Triantaphyllos Akylas ◽  
Ulrich Achatz
Keyword(s):  
Ray Tracing ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Energy Transport ◽  
Multiple Scale ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Quantitative Agreement ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Wave Trains ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Triad Interactions

<p>Internal gravity waves are a well known mechanism of energy transport in stratified fluids such as the atmosphere and the ocean. Their abundance and importance for various geophysical processes like ocean mixing and momentum deposition in atmospheric jets are widely accepted. While resonant wave-wave interactions of monochromatic disturbances have received intensive study, little work has been done on triad interactions between wave trains that are modulated by a variable mean flow.</p><p>Using the method of multiple scale asymptotics we consider a weakly non-linear Boussinesq WKBJ theory for interacting gravity wave trains propagating through a finite amplitude background flow. Consequently the wave trains are allowed to spectrally pass through resonance conditions and exchange energy when sufficiently close to resonance. We find a global optimal threshold for the deviation from resonance and derive a corresponding parametrization for the triad interaction applicable to ray tracing schemes.</p><p>We test the theory with idealized simulations in which two wave trains generate a third by passing through resonance in a sinusoidal background shear flow with varying vertical scales. Comparing WKBJ simulations with wave resolving large eddy simulations we find qualitative and quantitative agreement. Furthermore we assess the impact of the strength of the modulation as well as the effect of the wave amplitudes on the energy exchange between the interacting wave triad.</p>

scholarly journals Meteorological effects in the lower ionosphere as based on VLF/LF signal observations

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 2789-2812 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rozhnoi ◽  
M. Solovieva ◽  
B. Levin ◽  
M. Hayakawa ◽  
V. Fedun
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Lower Ionosphere ◽  
Signal Amplitude ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Atmospheric Parameters ◽  
Low Latitudes ◽  
Far Eastern ◽  
Meteorological Effects

Abstract. Very low and low frequency (VLF/LF) data recorded in the Far Eastern stations Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (158.92° E, 53.15° N), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (142.75° E, 46.95° N) and Yuzhno-Kurilsk (145.861° E, 44.03° N) are investigated to study the meteorological effects in the lower ionosphere. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of the VLF/LF signals to the variations of atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind velocity and temperature, and the VLF/LF record at the station of Yuzhno-Kurilsk is found to be most sensitive to those variations of atmospheric parameters. The region under consideration is characterized by high winter cyclonic activity in midlatitudes and strong summer and autumn typhoon activity in low latitudes. VLF/LF signal variations during 8 tropical cyclones (TCs) with different intensity are considered. Negative nighttime anomalies in the signal amplitude that are most probably caused by TC activity are found for 6 events. Those anomalies are observed during 1–2 days when TCs move inside the sensitivity zones of the subionospheric paths. Perturbations of the VLF signal observed during 2 TCs can be caused by both the TC influence and seismic activity, but no correlation between TC intensity and magnitude of the signal anomalies is found. Spectral analysis of the typhoon-induced disturbed signals revealed the fluctuations with time periods in the range of 7–16 and 15–55 min that corresponds to the range of internal gravity waves periods.

Acoustic Visualization of Nonlinear Internal Gravity Waves Using an Improved High Frequency Sonar System

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Michael T. McCord ◽  
Earl W. Carey
Keyword(s):  
Fine Structure ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Sonar System ◽  
Industry Applications ◽  
Sonar Systems

High frequency sonar systems have been used by the Naval Research Laboratory to study nonlinear internal gravity waves and define the fine structure of ocean temperature and salinity layers that are found in coastal waters, usually within 130 meters of the surface. Of particular interest is the fine structure of these waves, which are being investigated using high sensitivity sonar systems that provide 1 m horizontal resolution and less than 8 cm vertical resolution. This article describes the integration of commercial and custom-designed components, including a recently patented transmitter-receiver switch. The significance of this T-R switch is that it improves the sensitivity of short-range sonar systems, enables a more refined measurement of nonlinear internal gravity waves, and could have broad industry applications.

scholarly journals Photometric detection of internal gravity waves in upper main-sequence stars

2019 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. A135 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Bowman ◽  
C. Aerts ◽  
C. Johnston ◽  
M. G. Pedersen ◽  
T. M. Rogers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Photometric Detection ◽  
F Stars ◽  
Low Frequency Power ◽  
Frequency Power

Context. Main sequence stars with a convective core are predicted to stochastically excite internal gravity waves (IGWs), which effectively transport angular momentum throughout the stellar interior and explain the observed near-uniform interior rotation rates of intermediate-mass stars. However, there are few detections of IGWs, and fewer still made using photometry, with more detections needed to constrain numerical simulations. Aims. We aim to formalise the detection and characterisation of IGWs in photometric observations of stars born with convective cores (M ≳ 1.5 M⊙) and parameterise the low-frequency power excess caused by IGWs. Methods. Using the most recent CoRoT light curves for a sample of O, B, A and F stars, we parameterised the morphology of the flux contribution of IGWs in Fourier space using an MCMC numerical scheme within a Bayesian framework. We compared this to predictions from IGW numerical simulations and investigated how the observed morphology changes as a function of stellar parameters. Results. We demonstrate that a common morphology for the low-frequency power excess is observed in early-type stars observed by CoRoT. Our study shows that a background frequency-dependent source of astrophysical signal is common, which we interpret as IGWs. We provide constraints on the amplitudes of IGWs and the shape of their detected frequency spectrum across a range of mass, which is the first ensemble study of stochastic variability in such a diverse sample of stars. Conclusions. The evidence of a low-frequency power excess across a wide mass range supports the interpretation of IGWs in photometry of O, B, A and F stars. We also discuss the prospects of observing hundreds of massive stars with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in the near future.

scholarly journals Meteorological effects in the lower ionosphere as based on VLF/LF signal observations

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2671-2679 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rozhnoi ◽  
M. Solovieva ◽  
B. Levin ◽  
M. Hayakawa ◽  
V. Fedun
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Lower Ionosphere ◽  
Signal Amplitude ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Atmospheric Parameters ◽  
Low Latitudes ◽  
Far Eastern ◽  
Meteorological Effects

Abstract. Very low and low frequency (VLF/LF) data recorded in the Far Eastern stations Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (158.92° E, 53.15° N), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (142.75° E, 46.95° N) and Yuzhno-Kurilsk (145.861° E, 44.03° N) are investigated to study the meteorological effects in the lower ionosphere. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of the VLF/LF signals to the variations of atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind velocity and temperature, and the VLF/LF record at the station of Yuzhno-Kurilsk is found to be most sensitive to those variations of atmospheric parameters. The region under consideration is characterized by high winter cyclonic activity in mid-latitudes and strong summer and autumn typhoon activity in low latitudes. VLF/LF signal variations during eight tropical cyclones (TCs) with different intensity are considered. Negative nighttime anomalies in the signal amplitude that are most probably caused by TC activity are found for six events. Those anomalies are observed during 1–2 days when TCs move inside the sensitivity zones of the subionospheric paths. Perturbations of the VLF signal observed during two TCs can be caused by both the TC influence and seismic activity, but no correlation between TC intensity and magnitude of the signal anomalies is found. Spectral analysis of the typhoon-induced disturbed signals revealed the fluctuations with time periods in the range of 7–16 and 15–55 min that corresponds to the range of internal gravity waves periods.

On standing internal gravity waves of finite amplitude

1968 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Thorpe
Keyword(s):  
Density Gradient ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Constant Density ◽  
Interfacial Wave ◽  
Large Wave ◽  
Fractional Density ◽  
Rectangular Container ◽  
Good Agreement

Two-dimensional internal gravity waves in a rectangular container are examined theoretically and experimentally in (a) fluids which contain a single density discontinuity and (b) fluids in which the density gradient is everywhere continuous. The fractional density difference between the top and bottom of the fluid is small.Good agreement is found between the observed and calculated wave profiles in case (a). Unlike surface standing waves, which tend to sharpen at their crests as the wave amplitude increases, and which eventually break at the crests when fluid accelerations become equal to that of gravity, internal wave crests are found to be flat and exhibit no instability. In the case (a) breaking is found to occur at the nodes of the interfacial wave, where the current shear, generated by the wave itself, is greatest. For sufficiently large wave amplitudes, a disturbance with the form of a vortex but with direction of rotation reversing twice every cycle, grows at the wave node and causes mixing. This instability is found to be followed by the generation of cross-waves, of which two different forms are observed.Several modes of oscillation can be generated and are observed in a fluid with constant density gradient. The wave frequencies and shape are well predicted by theory. The experiments failed to establish any limitation of the possible wave amplitudes.

The interaction trapping of internal gravity waves

1968 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. M. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Density Gradient ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Wave Motion ◽  
Vertical Component ◽  
Finite Depth ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Wave Number ◽  
Steady Current ◽  
Linear Interactions ◽  
Unbounded Fluid

It is shown that as a result of their non-linear interactions, internal gravity waves in an unbounded fluid can be trapped to a layer of finite depth by periodic small variations in either the density gradient or in a weak horizontal steady current. This trapping occurs when the vertical component of the wave-number is half that of the density gradient or of the current variations. The energy density of the wave motion trapped near the ocean surface decreases exponentially with depth over a distance that is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the variations in density gradient or in horizontal current speed.

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