EFFECT OF PYCNOCLINE THICKNESS ON INTERNAL SOLITARY WAVE BREAKING OVER A SLOPE AND ITS CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

 In a two-layer fluid, when pycnocline thickness is negligible, an internal solitary wave (ISW) breaking over a slope can be categorized into four breaker types: surging, collapsing, plunging, and fission breakers. The latest classification into four breaker types is based on wave slope, bottom slope gradient and an internal Reynolds number. However, it remains unsolved if this classification can categorize the breaking of an ISW under thick pycnocline conditions. This study uses numerical simulations to investigate the applicability of the classification under changing pycnocline thickness. We found that the classification can categorize all breaker types even when pycnocline thickness varies. Additionally, thicker pycnoclines result in more significant energy loss and onshore mass transport energy loss due to ISW breaking.