Nonlinear processes generated by supercritical tidal flow in shallow straits

• DOI: 10.1063/1.4986260
• Publication Date: 2017-06-21T15:24:30Z
• Authors: Lucie Bordois; Francis Auclair; Alexandre Paci; Yvan Dossmann; Cyril Nguyen
• Keywords: Pycnocline; Internal tide; Stratified flows

Numerical experiments have been carried out using a nonhydrostatic and non-Boussinesq regional oceanic circulation model to investigate the nonlinear processes generated by supercritical tidal flow in shallow straits. Our approach relies on idealized direct numerical simulations inspired observations. By analyzing large set of simulations, regime diagram is proposed for lee these The results show that topography shape strait plays crucial role formation internal solitary waves (ISWs) occurrence local breaking events. Both are important turbulence producing phenomena. topographic control, observed mode 1 ISW previous studies [Y. Dossmann, F. Auclair, A. Paci, “Topographically induced pycnocline: Primary generation control,” Phys. Fluids 25, 066601 (2013) Y. Dossmann et al., Ultrasonic probes stereo-correlation measurements,” 26, 056601 (2014)], clearly reproducible mode-2 above Strong plunging events “narrow” straits (straits with width less than wavelength) when fluid velocity exceeds wave speed. These step towards future works vertical mixing quantification localization around complex areas.