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The energetics of the interaction between short small-amplitude internal waves and inertial waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2006

D. Broutman  and
R. Grimshaw
D. Broutman
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics, University of New South Wales, PO Box 1, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
R. Grimshaw
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics, University of New South Wales, PO Box 1, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
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Abstract

The interaction between a wave packet of small-amplitude short internal waves, and a finite-amplitude inertial wave field is described to second order in the short-wave amplitude. The discussion is based on the principle of wave action conservation and the equations for the wave-induced Lagrangian mean flow. It is demonstrated that as the short internal waves propagate through the inertial wave field they generate a wave-induced train of trailing inertial waves. The contribution of this wave-induced mean flow to the total energy balance is described. The results obtained here complement the finding of Broutman & Young (1986) that the short internal waves undergo a net change in energy after their encounter with the inertial wave field.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 196 , November 1988 , pp. 93 - 106
Copyright
© 1988 Cambridge University Press

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