Abstract
Abstract The dynamics of progressive internal gravity waves of small amplitude are studied by means of two-dimensional (5122) and preliminary threedimensional (643) direct numerical simulations of the Boussinesq equations. Our results show that an internal wave always breaks (for a viscosity low enough), this event being initiated by resonant interactions. A turbulent regime sets in after breaking. This regime is characterized by kinetic and potential energy spectra that behave as aN2k-3, thelevel a for potential energy being identical as that found in the oceanic thermocline (for example Gregg, 1987). The overall dynamics are analogous to that found for a two-dimensional standing internal gravity wave by Bouruet-Aubertot et al. (1995, 1996). This suggests that small scale geophysical flows, which mainly involve progressive internal waves, may be studied by laboratory experiments, where standing waves are mainly encountered.
Published Version
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