Energy Spectra of Nonlocal Internal Gravity Wave Turbulence.

Abstract

Starting from the classical formulation of the weak turbulence theory in a density stratified fluid, we derive a simplified version of the kinetic equation of internal gravity wave turbulence. This equation allows us to uncover scaling laws for the spatial and temporal energy spectra of internal wave turbulence which are consistent with typical scaling exponents observed in the oceans. The keystone of our description is the assumption that the energy transfers are dominated by a class of nonlocal resonant interactions, known as the "induced diffusion" triads, which conserve the ratio between the wave frequency and vertical wave number. Our analysis remarkably shows that the internal wave turbulence cascade is associated to an apparent constant flux of wave action.