Comparison of Laboratory and Theoretical Internal Solitary Wave Kinematics
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 5
Abstract
An investigation into the peak velocities in internal solitary waves characteristic of those found on the ocean thermocline is described. Measurements made using particle image velocimetry in a laboratory tank are compared to the predictions of Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) theory, in both two-layer and continuously stratified forms, and to a two-layer fully nonlinear theory. The dataset comprised 60 waves, covering amplitudes in the range of layer depths in the range of and density differences of 2.5 and 7.5%. It is found that KdV theory predicts peak velocities well when the ratio of wave height to upper layer depth is less than 0.4, while the fully nonlinear theory performs better for higher ratios.
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Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 5 • September 2003
Pages: 210 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 13, 2000
Accepted: Mar 21, 2003
Published online: Aug 15, 2003
Published in print: Sep 2003
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