Search

The generation of mode-2 nonlinear internal waves (IWs) by the evolution of a mode-1 IW in a two-dimensional stratification is investigated. A generation model accounting for intermodal interaction is derived based on a multi-modal approach in a weakly nonlinear and non-hydrostatic configuration. The generation model is numerically solved to simulate the evolution of mode-1 and mode-2 IWs in an inhomogeneous pycnocline. The numerical experiments confirm that a mode-2 IW is generated due to linear and nonlinear intermodal interaction. The mode-2 IW continues growing and gradually separates with the mode-1 IW during the generation process. A non-dimensional quantity quantifying the energy of mode-2 IWs is used to investigate the favorable conditions for the formation of mode-2 IWs. The numerical results suggest that the pycnocline strength or depth prominently affects the formation of mode-2 IWs, followed by pycnocline thickness. A weakening or shoaling pycnocline favors the formation of mode-2 IWs by evidently enhancing linear and nonlinear intermodal interaction, whereas a thinning pycnocline favors the process mainly by enhancing nonlinear intermodal interaction. Shortening the front length inhibits nonlinear intermodal interaction while equivalently strengthens the linear intermodal interaction. Increasing the initial mode-1 IW amplitude can noticeably increase the produced mode-2 IW amplitude., Comment: Generation of mode-2 internal waves by the interaction of a mode-1 IW with an inhomogeneous pycnocline is theoretically and numerically studied

Field measurements of second-mode internal solitary waves (mode-2 ISWs) during the winter on the upper continental slope of the northern South China Sea were reported in Yang et al. (2009), but their generation mechanism remains elusive. We investigated this issue with a multi-modal evolution model and theoretical analysis, which suggest that the observed mode-2 ISWs were generated by a shoaling mode-2 semidiurnal internal tide (IT) that emanated from the Luzon Strait. The results show that two groups of mode-2 ISWs usually appear within one semidiurnal tidal period, successively riding on expanded and subsequently compressed pycnoclines. The number of wave groups largely depends on the amplitudes of the ITs; that is, a larger IT produces larger mode-2 ISWs. Furthermore, intermodal coupling dominates the evolution of a mode-1 IT, highlighting the importance of considering mode scattering in the propagation of low-mode ITs., Comment: Generation of mode-2 ISWs during the winter on the upper continental slope in the northern SCS is studied

We present experimental evidence that a minute amount of polymer additives can significantly enhance heat transport in the bulk region of turbulent thermal convection. The effects of polymer additives are found to be the \textit{suppression} of turbulent background fluctuations that give rise to incoherent heat fluxes that make no net contribution to heat transport, and at the same time to \textit{increase} the coherency of temperature and velocity fields. The suppression of small-scale turbulent fluctuations leads to more coherent thermal plumes that result in the heat transport enhancement. The fact that polymer additives can increase the coherency of thermal plumes is supported by the measurements of a number of local quantities, such as the extracted plume amplitude and width, the velocity autocorrelation functions and the velocity-temperature cross-correlation coefficient. The results from local measurements also suggest the existence of a threshold value for the polymer concentration, only above which can significant modification of the plume coherent properties and enhancement of the local heat flux be observed. Estimation of the plume emission rate suggests that the second effect of polymer additives is to stabilize the thermal boundary layers., Comment: 8 figures, 11 pages