Downscaling Model Resolution to Illuminate the Internal Wave Field in a Small Stratified Lake

Abstract

This paper presents the application of hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic three-dimensional hydrodynamic models to a stratified lake. Focus was given to the multiscale response of the internal wave field to strong wind gusts exceeding 20 m s−1 . Simulations were performed using different horizontal grid resolutions with uniform grid sizes varying from 100×100 to 10×10 m . Results of the hydrostatic models were used to investigate the large-scale features of the internal wave motion. With the intent of investigating the high-frequency waves, observed results of these simulations were used as initial conditions for nonhydrostatic simulations using smaller grids. Wavelength of the high frequency waves decreased with grid resolution. However, none of the uniform grids were sufficiently fine to capture the waves of the highest frequency. Simulations performed using a nonuniform grid produced internal waves of similar frequency of the waves observed in the field. The simulations showed that these waves were shear u...