From internal waves to turbulence in a stably stratified fluid

Abstract

We report on the statistical analysis of stratified turbulence forced by large-scale waves. The setup mimics some features of the tidal forcing of turbulence in the ocean interior at submesoscales. Our experiments are performed in the large-scale Coriolis facility in Grenoble which is 13 m in diameter and 1 m deep. Four wavemakers excite large scale waves of moderate amplitude. In addition to weak internal wave turbulence at large scales, we observe strongly nonlinear waves, the breaking of which triggers intermittently strong turbulence at small scales. A transition to strongly nonlinear turbulence is observed at smaller scales. Our measurements are reminiscent of oceanic observations. Despite similarities with the empirical Garrett & Munk spectrum that assumes weak wave turbulence, our observed energy spectra are rather be attributed to strongly nonlinear internal waves.