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A viscous internal wave in a stratified fluid whose buoyancy frequency varies with altitude

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

D. Gordon
Affiliation:
Department of the Mechanics of Fluids, University of Manchester, England
U. R. Klement
Affiliation:
Department of the Mechanics of Fluids, University of Manchester, England
T. N. Stevenson
Affiliation:
Department of the Mechanics of Fluids, University of Manchester, England

Abstract

A viscous incompressible stably stratified fluid with a buoyancy frequency which varies slowly with altitude is considered. A simple harmonic localized disturbance generates an internal wave in which the energy propagates along curved paths. Small amplitude similarity solutions are obtained for two-dimensional and axisymmetric waves. It is found that under certain conditions the wave amplitude can increase with height. The two-dimensional theory compares quite well with experimental measurements.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1975 Cambridge University Press

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References

Gordon, D. & Stevenson, T. N. 1972 J. Fluid Mech. 56, 629.
GÖRTLER, H. 1943 Z. angew. Math. Mech. 23, 65.
Thomas, N. H. & Stevenson, T. N. 1972 J. Fluid Mech. 54, 495.