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PSI to turbulence during internal wave beam refraction through the upper ocean pycnocline
Author(s) -
Gayen B.,
Sarkar S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl061226
Subject(s) - pycnocline , internal wave , turbulence , physics , instability , refraction , wavenumber , mechanics , beam (structure) , geophysics , geology , optics , meteorology , oceanography
A numerical study based on large eddy simulation (LES) is performed to investigate the nonlinear interaction of a semidiurnal (M2) internal wave beam with an upper ocean pycnocline. During refraction through the pycnocline, the wave beam undergoes parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) with formation of waves with (1/2)M2 frequency. The three‐dimensional LES enables new results that quantify the route to turbulence through PSI. The subharmonic waves generated from PSI have an order of magnitude smaller vertical scale and are susceptible to wave breaking. Convective instability initiates transition to turbulence, while shear production maintains it. Turbulence at points in the subharmonic wave paths is modulated at (1/2)M2 frequency. The beam suffers substantial degradation owing to PSI, reflected harmonics and ducted waves so that only about 30% of the incoming energy is transported by the main reflected beam.