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Research > Internal Waves

Internal waves are propagating disturbances of gravitationally-stable density stratifications. They are ubiquitous in the Earth's oceans (and also atmosphere), where they are generated by flow over ocean-floor topography and sea-surface winds. Dissipation of these internal waves impacts the Earth's climate by influencing large-scale ocean circulation, affecting plankton distribution, and perhaps even shaping the continental slopes. From an engineering perspective, internal waves affect the performance of underwater technology, such as acoustic communication, submersible vehicles and marine cabling. A detailed understanding of all aspects of internal wave generation and evolution is therefore both profoundly and practically important.

We are currently using the latest experimental and theoretical techniques to investigate important aspects of the tidal conversion process, as well as collaborating with numerical simulations. In addition, we participate in ocean-going studies, such as the recent IWAP cruise off Hawaii and the ONR NLIWI field studies in the Luzon Strait. Our internal wave research is funded by the ONR and the NSF Physical Oceanography program. We are currently filming a documentary on Internal Waves for the Discovery Channel.

Spotlight

Vanishing internal wave beams

Ph.D. candidate Manikandan Mathur has recently completed a combined theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of internal wave beams in non-uniform density stratifications. The results will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Fluid Mechanics. His studies have revealed that wave beam ducting can occur under conditions that do not necessitate evanescent layers. The results are used to explain recent field observations of a vanishing wave beam at the Keana Ridge, Hawaii. [read the paper]

Relevant Publications

  1. Peacock, T., and Weidman, P., "The effect of rotation on conical wave beams in a stratified fluid," Experiments in Fluids, 39, 32-37 (2005). [link]
  2. Peacock, T. and Tabaei, A., "Visualization of nonlinear effects in internal wave beam reflection," Physics of Fluids, 17, Art. No. 061702 (2005). [link]
  3. Alford, M.H., MacKinnon, J.A., Zhao, Z., Pinkel, R., Klymak, J. and Peacock, T., "Internal waves across the Pacific," Geophysical Research Letters 34 (24), L24601 (2007). [link]
  4. Peacock, T., Echeverri, P. and Balmforth, N.J., "Experimental investigation of internal tide generation by two-dimensional topography," Journal of Physical Oceanography, 38 (1), 235-242 (2008). [link]
  5. Balmforth, N.J. and Peacock, T., "Internal tide generation by supercritical topography," Journal of Physical Oceanography, 39, 1965-1974 (2009). [link]
  6. Echeverri, P., Flynn, M.R., Winters, K.B. and Peacock, T., "Low-mode internal tide generation: an experimental and numerical investigation," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, accepted (2009). [link]
  7. Mathur, M. and Peacock, T., "Internal wave beam propagation in nonuniform stratifications," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, accepted (2009). [link]
  8. Echeverrri, P. and Peacock, T., "Internal tide generation by complicated topography," submitted to Journal of Fluid Mechanics (2009). [link]
  9. Echeverri, P., Balmforth, N.J. and Peacock, T., "Internal tide attractors in double ridge systems," submitted to Journal of Fluid Mechanics (2009). [link]
  10. Peacock, T., Mercier, M.J., Didelle, H., Viboud, S. and Dauxois, T., "A laboratory study of low-mode internal tide scattering by supercritical topography," submitted to Physics of Fluids. [link]
  11. Mercier, M.J., Martinand, D., Mathur, M., Gostiaux, L., Peacock, T. and Dauxois, T., "New (internal) wave generation," submitted to Journal of Fluid Mechanics. [link]

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