Generation of a Vertical Fine Structure by Internal Waves on the Sea Shelf

Abstract

Free internal waves are considered in the Boussinesq approximation with account of horizontal turbulent viscosity and diffusion in a two-dimensional flow in the sea of constant depth. In the linear approximation the boundary-value problem for the amplitude of vertical velocity has complex coefficients and is solved numerically using the third-order implicit Adams method. The vertical component of the Stokes drift velocity and the vertical wave fluxes of mass and salt are found in the second order in the wave amplitude. These fluxes lead to generation of a vertical fine structure that has an irreversible nature.