Dense pulses formed from fissioning internal waves

Abstract Cold pulses generated by the fission of internal solitary waves over gentle slopes are an important source nutrients and relief from excess heat to benthic ecosystems. This numerical study investigates effect stratification form on produced propagating a smooth, gentle, linear topographic slope in 2D simulations. Three types investigated, namely (i) thin tanh (homogeneous upper lower layers separated pycnocline), (ii) surface (linearly stratified layer overlaying homogeneous layer) (iii) broad (continuous density gradient throughout water column). Incident wave amplitude was varied. In stratification, good agreement is seen with past studies, whilst dynamics observed very similar those stratification. However, due different incident waves, differ, but produce other stratifications. Pulse amplitude, wavelength propagation velocity found strongly depend each degenerate linearly as pulse propagates upslope.