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Parametric instability and wave turbulence driven by tidal excitation of internal waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2018

Thomas Le Reun Open the ORCID record for Thomas Le Reun [Opens in a new window] ,
Benjamin Favier  and
Michael Le Bars
Thomas Le Reun*
Affiliation:
Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, IRPHE UMR 7342, Marseille, France
Benjamin Favier
Affiliation:
Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, IRPHE UMR 7342, Marseille, France
Michael Le Bars
Affiliation:
Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, IRPHE UMR 7342, Marseille, France
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

We investigate the stability of stratified fluid layers undergoing homogeneous and periodic tidal deformation. We first introduce a local model which allows us to study velocity and buoyancy fluctuations in a Lagrangian domain periodically stretched and sheared by the tidal base flow. While keeping the key physical ingredients only, such a model is efficient in simulating planetary regimes where tidal amplitudes and dissipation are small. With this model, we prove that tidal flows are able to drive parametric subharmonic resonances of internal waves, in a way reminiscent of the elliptical instability in rotating fluids. The growth rates computed via direct numerical simulations (DNSs) are in very good agreement with Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin analysis and Floquet theory. We also investigate the turbulence driven by this instability mechanism. With spatio-temporal analysis, we show that it is weak internal wave turbulence occurring at small Froude and buoyancy Reynolds numbers. When the gap between the excitation and the Brunt–Väisälä frequencies is increased, the frequency spectrum of this wave turbulence displays a $-2$ power law reminiscent of the high-frequency branch of the Garett and Munk spectrum (Geophys. Fluid Dyn., vol. 3 (1), 1972, pp. 225–264) which has been measured in the oceans. In addition, we find that the mixing efficiency is altered compared to what is computed in the context of DNS of stratified turbulence excited at small Froude and large buoyancy Reynolds numbers and is consistent with a superposition of waves.

JFM classification

Geophysical and Geological Flows: Geophysical and Geological Flows Geophysical and Geological Flows: Internal waves Geophysical and Geological Flows: Stratified flows
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 840 , 10 April 2018 , pp. 498 - 529
Copyright
© 2018 Cambridge University Press 

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