Loss of energy of internal solitary wave over underwater obstacle

Abstract

Internal waves are considered as the main reason of mixing of the stratified ocean waters. They lose teir energy for mixing processes when dissipate on the oceanic shelves. The elementary act of interaction of an internal solitary wave with a bottom step is studied to estimate the energy loss of an incident internal solitary wave. Five different regimes of internal solitary wave interaction were identified within the full range of ratios of height of bottom layer after the step to the incident wave amplitude. a bottom step is studied to estimate the energy loss of an incident internal solitary wave. Five different regimes of internal solitary wave interaction were identified within the full range of ratios of height of bottom layer after the step to the incident wave amplitude.