Collaborative Research: Exploring the Role of Internal Wave Generation in Gravity Currents

由于其在海洋翻转环流中的重要性，过去对密集海洋重力流中的卷吸进行了深入的研究。这些研究只包含很少的检查产生夹带的实际过程中，并在历史上没有被链接的内部重力波（IGW）的产生与重力流。这与许多大气研究的大气下坡风流IGW生成已被发现是一个重要的过程，并负责大量的动量传递。在海洋溢流中，很少有历史观测捕捉到检测内波产生所需的尺度。然而，根据有限的可用数据的重新分析，至少有一些溢出的垂直结构和时间尺度的范围有利于IGW生成。我们假设IGW代代表地中海外流（Med Outflow）的动量汇。该项目将与西班牙科学家合作，研究IGW在地中海外流中的存在、特征和动态作用。计划进行两次短期系泊和密集的船上LADCP/CTD调查，以探索IGW结构，并检查它是否可能对重力流动力学和夹带很重要。这项研究提供了一个战略机会，启动国际，欧洲和美国的合作。

Entrainment in dense oceanic gravity currents has been studied intensively in the past owing to its importance for the oceanic overturning circulation. These studies contain only little examination of the actual processes that produce the entrainment, and have historically not been linked the generation of internal gravity waves (IGWs) with gravity current flows. This contrasts many atmospheric studies of atmospheric down slope wind flows in which IGW generation has been found to be an essential process and responsible for a significant amount of momentum transfer. In oceanic overflows, few historical observations capture the scales necessary to detect internal wave generation. However, based on a reanalysis of the limited available data, at least some overflows have a vertical structure and range of temporal scales conducive to IGW generation. We hypothesize that IGW generation represents a momentum sink in the Mediterranean Outflow (Med Outflow). The project will examine the presence, characteristics, and dynamic role of IGWs in the Med Outflow in collaboration with Spanish scientists. Two short-term moorings and intensive shipboard LADCP/CTD surveys are planed to explore the IGW structure and to examine if it is likely to be important for gravity current dynamics and entrainment. This study offers a strategic opportunity to initiate an international, European-American collaboration.