Impact Of Internal Waves Research Articles

Impact of internal waves on underwater acoustic propagation

The propagation of internal waves in the ocean can produce significant fluctuations in the local sound speed field. Understanding how these fluctuations affect acoustic propagation is an area of considerable interest in underwater acoustics. Previous studies have indicated that large fluctuations (of the order of 20 dB) in transmission loss (TL) of acoustic waves can occur due to focusing and defocusing effects as the acoustic waves propagate through an internal wave. This work looks to extend some of these studies by exploring the frequency and directional dependence of these fluctuations through the implementation of a 3D acoustic model (FOR3D) suitable for modelling low frequency (<1 kHz) acoustic propagation. The study utilises sound speed data produced using the non-hydrostatic model MITgcm, simulating a nonlinear three-dimensional internal wave field that was verified using in situ mooring observations. By also considering results from a study utilising an acoustic ray model (Bellhop3D) on the same data, this work gives a comprehensive picture of the internal wave induced TL fluctuations across a range of acoustic frequencies.

The impact of internal tides and gravity waves on key acoustic parameters and acoustic transmission loss near the Amazon shelf

Upper ocean variability depends on tides and wind forcing. The barotropic tide creates baroclinic internal tides and internal gravity waves (IGWs) that can propagate long distances and dissipate, impacting mixed layer and thermocline depths, vertical thermal gradients, and mixing. In the last decade, there has been an effort to include tidal motions in global HYCOM (HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model). Here, we look at the impacts of tidally driven motions on acoustic propagation along the Amazon shelf by comparing acoustic transmission loss and key acoustic parameters in 1/25 deg Global HYCOM model runs with and without tides. Acoustic runs were performed at mid-frequencies using Bellhop3D at depths above and below the sonic-layer depth (SLD). Key acoustic parameters assessed include the SLD and vertical sound-speed gradients. Although the impacts of the internal waves and tides on acoustics are intermingled with the effects of other stochastic ocean processes (e.g., mesoscale eddies, fronts, and atmospheric forcing), timeseries analysis indicates that there is acoustic sensitivity to tidally forced variability. These ocean-acoustic results can be used for future development of machine learning algorithms to model coupled oceanographic and acoustical processes.

Internal gravity waves in a stratified layer atop a convecting liquid core in a non-rotating spherical shell

SUMMARY Seismic and magnetic observations have suggested the presence of a stably stratified layer atop Earth’s core. Such a layer could affect the morphology of the geomagnetic field and the evolution of the core, but the precise impact of this layer depends largely on its internal dynamics. Among other physical phenomena, stratified layers host internal gravity waves (IGW), which can be excited by adjacent convective motions. Internal waves are known to play an important role on the large-scale dynamics of the Earth’s climate and on the long-term evolution of stars. Yet, they have received relatively little attention in the Earth’s outer core so far and deserve detailed investigations in this context. Here, we make a first step in that direction by running numerical simulations of IGW in a non-rotating spherical shell in which a stratified layer lies on top of a convective region. We use a nonlinear equation of state to produce self-consistently such a two-layer system. Both propagating waves and global modes coexist in the stratified layer. We characterize the spectral properties of these waves and find that energy is distributed across a wide range of frequencies and length scales, that depends on the Prandtl number. For the control parameters considered and in the absence of rotational and magnetic effects, the mean kinetic energy in the layer is about 0.1 per cent that of the convective region. IGW produce perturbations in the gravity field that may fall within the sensitivity limit of present-day instruments and could potentially be detected in available data. We finally provide a road map for future, more geophysically realistic, studies towards a more thorough understanding of the dynamics and impact of internal waves in a stratified layer atop Earth’s core.

The impact of internal waves on upper continental slopes: insights from the Mozambican margin (southwest Indian Ocean)

AbstractEvidences of sedimentation affected by oceanic circulation, such as nepheloid layers and contourites are often observed along continental slopes. However, the oceanographic processes controlling sedimentation along continental margins remain poorly understood. Multibeam bathymetry and high‐resolution seismic reflection data revealed a contourite depositional system in the Mozambican upper continental slope composed of a contourite terrace (a surface with a gentle seaward slope dominated by erosion) and a plastered drift (a convex‐shape sedimentary deposit). A continuous alongslope channel and a field of sand dunes (mainly migrating upslope), formed during Holocene, were identified in the contourite terrace at the present seafloor. Seismic reflection data of the water column show internal waves and boluses propagating in the pycnocline near the upper slope. The channel and the dunes are probably the result of the interaction of the observed internal waves with the seafloor under two different conditions. The alongslope channel is located in a zone where intense barotropic tidal currents may arrest internal solitary waves, generating a hydraulic jump and focused erosion. However, upslope migrating dunes may be formed by bottom currents induced by internal solitary waves of elevation propagating landwards in the pycnocline. These small‐scale sedimentary features generated by internal waves are superimposed on large‐scale contouritic deposits, such as plastered drifts and contourite terraces, which are related to geostrophic currents. These findings provide new insights into the oceanographic processes that control sedimentation along continental margins that will help interpretation of palaeoceanographic conditions from the sedimentary record. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Heat accumulation on coral reefs mitigated by internal waves

Coral reefs are among the most species-rich, productive and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth but increasingly frequent pantropical coral bleaching events are threatening their persistence on a global scale. The 2015–2016 El Nino led to the hottest sea surface temperatures on record and widespread bleaching of shallow-water corals. However, the causes of spatial variation in bleaching are poorly understood, and near-surface estimates of heat stress, such as those inferred from satellites, cannot be generalized across the broad depth ranges occupied by corals. Here, using in situ temperatures recorded across reefs from the near surface to 30–50 m depths in the western, central and eastern Pacific, we show that during the peak of the 2015–2016 anomaly, temperature fluctuations associated with internal waves reduced cumulative heat exposure by up to 88%. The durations of severe thermal anomalies above 8 °C-days, at which point widespread coral bleaching and mortality are likely, were also decreased by >36% at some sites and were prevented entirely at others. The impact of internal waves across depths on coral reefs has the potential to create and support thermal refuges in which heat stress and coral bleaching risk may be modulated, but future effects depend on the response of internal wave climates to continued warming and strengthening ocean stratification. Internal waves can relieve coral reef heat stress, according to an analysis that isolates the effect at different depths using a compilation of high-resolution temperature records.

The Fate and Impact of Internal Waves in Nearshore Ecosystems.

Internal waves are widespread features of global oceans that play critical roles in mixing and thermohaline circulation. Similarly to surface waves, internal waves can travel long distances, ultimately breaking along continental margins. These breaking waves can transport deep ocean water and associated constituents (nutrients, larvae, and acidic low-oxygen waters) onto the shelf and locally enhance turbulence and mixing, with important effects on nearshore ecosystems. We are only beginning to understand the role internal waves play in shaping nearshore ecosystems. Here, I review the physics of internal waves in shallow waters and identify two commonalities among internal waves in the nearshore: exposure to deep offshore waters and enhanced turbulence and mixing. I relate these phenomena to important ecosystem processes ranging from extreme events to fertilization success to draw general conclusions about the influence of internal waves on ecosystems and the effects of internal waves in a changing climate.

Nummulitic banks in the upper Lutetian ‘Buil level’, Ainsa Basin, South Central Pyrenean Zone: the impact of internal waves

AbstractNummulites,a particularly abundant and diverse genus of larger benthonic foraminifera, formed huge accumulations (banks) during the Eocene, which are often good hydrocarbon reservoirs, especially in North Africa. Despite their economical interest, these accumulations are not well‐understood and their origin is still under discussion. Reasons for this debate are the absence of livingNummulitesaccumulations and the high‐variability of facies, including the size, shape and extension of the banks, which reflect the array of processes controlling sediment production and accumulation. The nummulitic banks near Santa María de Buil, in the Ainsa Basin (South Pyrenean Foreland Basin) are composed of recurrent facies associations within mappable bed units bounded by physical surfaces. The depositional processes that produced theNummulites deshayesiaccumulations are interpreted considering the shape of the banks, the type of bounding surfaces, the distribution of sedimentary textures,Nummulitestest shapes and the associated skeletal components within the banks. This integrative analysis indicates that nummulitic banks accumulated from mass flows, with very poor sediment sorting. Textural and compositional differences among banks suggest that globoseNummulitesthrived in the shallower part of the mesophotic zone with abundant nummulithoclasts, whereas flat nummulitic forms thrived in deeper mesophotic, clay‐dominated settings. Interbedded with nummulitic banks, coral biostromes and coral mounds bearingOperculina,DiscocyclinaandAsterocyclina, representin situaccumulation near the base of the photic zone. Internal waves (waves that propagate along the pycnocline) are thought to be the triggering mechanism for the density flows. Internal waves and induced bottom currents are sporadic but strong enough to bring sediments into suspension. In contrast to surface waves (both fair‐weather and storm), whose impact is strongest near the sea surface and decreases with bathymetry, the impact of internal waves is usually strongest in the mid‐shelf region and weaker in shallow water. This explains the compositional character of the nummulitic banks.

Guest editorial to the special issue internal waves in the oceans and estuaries: modeling and observations

Internal waves that owe their existence to density/gradients setup by temperature and/or salinity fields play an important role in ocean dynamics. Whereas the application of internal waves in Naval Warfare is well known, what is not well documented is their role in Natural Hazards. Internal waves can augment surface waves through coupling, and when such a coupling occurs to storm surges and tides, there could be an increasing risk of intensified coastal inundation due to tropical and extra-tropical cyclones and tsunamis. Internal waves, under the right conditions, lead to the so-called Dead Water phenomena and can seriously hamper navigation. Such incidents in the world’s shipping lanes are well documented. We thank Springer Publishers and the editorial staff of Natural Hazards for inviting us to guest edit this special issue, which contains a total of eight papers. The first paper by S. V. Babu and A. D. Rao deals with the dynamics of mixing due to internal waves in the north western part of the Bay of Bengal during winter period. The second paper by Sridevi et al. is about the impact of internal waves on the acoustic field. Paper three is authored by Rao et al. and explains how stratification affects thermal inversions. A more theoretical approach was taken in the fourth paper by Hamdi et al. and examines analytical solutions and conservation laws for long nonlinear internal waves. The theoretical approach is continued in paper five by the same authors, where they employed method of lines simulations of the extended Korteweg–de Vries equation. Craig et al. deal with the coupling of internal waves and surface waves in paper six. Hareesh Kumar et al. describe in paper seven, how low-frequency internal waves influence the transmission loss variability. The final paper, written by Prasad and Rajasekhar,

Impact of internal waves on the spatial distribution of Planktothrix rubescens (cyanobacteria) in an alpine lake.

The vertical and horizontal distribution of the cyanobacterium, Planktothrix rubescens, was studied in a deep alpine lake (Lac du Bourget) in a 2-year monitoring program with 11 sampling points, and a 24-h survey at one sampling station. This species is known to proliferate in the metalimnic layer of numerous deep mesotrophic lakes in temperate areas, and also to produce hepatotoxins. When looking at the distribution of P. rubescens at the scale of the entire lake, we found large variations (up to 10 m) in the depth of the biomass peak in the water column. These variations were closely correlated to isotherm displacements. We also found significant variations in the distribution of the cyanobacterial biomass in the northern and southern parts of the lake. We used a physical modeling approach to demonstrate that two internal wave modes can explain these variations. Internal waves are generated by wind events, but can still be detected several days after the end of these events. Finally, our 24-h survey at one sampling point demonstrated that the V1H1 sinusoidal motion could evolve into nonlinear fronts. All these findings show that internal waves have a major impact on the distribution of P. rubescens proliferating in the metalimnic layer of a deep lake, and that this process could influence the growth of this species by a direct impact on light availability.

Impact of internal waves on the acoustic field at a coastal station off Paradeep, east coast of India

Internal Wave (IW) characteristics and the impact of IW on acoustic field have been studied utilizing the hourly time series of temperature and salinity data collected at a coastal site off Paradeep (North Bay of Bengal) during 24 - 25 October 2008. The IW characteristics, viz; period ) ( per t , velocity ) ( vel C , wavelength ) (L and wave numbers ) (k are found to be 2.133 hrs – 34.72 hrs, 0.135 km hr -1 , 0.37 km - 6.2 km and 2.70 - 0.16 cycles km -1 respectively. The semi-diurnal tidal forces are predominant than diurnal as well as at other frequencies and its contribution is about 64% towards the total potential energy ( 34 . 3 0 = E J m -2 ). Sound velocity perturbations with space and time in the presence of IW field are examined from Garrettt-Munk (GM) model. Transmission loss anomaly for optimized source-receiver configuration at the depth of 53 m and range of 9 km has been computed from acoustic modeling. The loss in the acoustic transmission is found to be 38.4 dB in the presence of Low frequency IW field.

Impact of internal waves on sound propagation off Bhimilipatnam, east coast of India

Internal waves (IW) are identified off Bhimilipatnam, east coast of India, from the time series CTD (hourly interval) and thermistor chain data (2 min interval) collected during 23–25 Feb 2007. The measurements were carried out at 94 m water depth on the continental shelf edge. These data sets are used to describe the characteristics of IW and their impact on acoustic fields. Garrett and Munk (GM) model has been used to predict the characteristics of low frequency (LF) IW with space and time. Active IW are seen in the layers 54 m–94 m with a velocity of 0.548 km h −1 and the wavelengths of the order of 0.03 km–21.8 km. The model could capture the IW features in the thermocline region accurately than at the bottom. This could be due to the limitation of the model which considers linearity. High frequency IW observed at the bottom could be due to the advection of tidal currents over the shallow irregular bottom in the presence of stratification. The study emphasizes linear IW rather than transient non-linear waves induced by tidal interaction with topography. Acoustic simulation results for low frequency IW field reveal that the intensity loss anomaly of eigenrays was found to be 2.86 dB–15.59 dB in the water column and maximum (38.48 dB) was observed at the bottom due to the bottom interaction. Our results are well compared with those reported earlier from simulation and acoustic field experiments in the Northern Indian Ocean.

Simulation of the impact of internal waves on the oxygen/hydrogen sulphide co-existence zone in the open part of the Black Sea

This paper focuses on the impact of periodic internal waves on the oxygen/hydrogen sulphide co-existence zone in the open Black Sea. The numerical model is based on a set of transport/diffusion equations governing the evolution of oxygen/hydrogen sulphide concentrations and considering the reaction between them. The wave velocity field is determined by solving a spectrum problem for preinertial period internal waves, using the characteristic vertical density profile for summertime. Via analysis of the model data, the influence of wave characteristics on the parameters of the O2/H2S co-existence zone has been assessed.