Experiments on the generation of internal waves in a stratified fluid
This paper presents an overview of the results of an experimental study of internal gravity waves produced as a result of the motion of a self-propelled vehicle through a fluid in which the density varies with depth. Two ambient density profiles are considered: one for which the characteristic vertical length scale of the density change is large compared to the vehicle diameter, and a second in which this scale is smaller than the diameter. The most significant results show a strong coupling between wake turbulence and short, random internal waves. In the presence of sharp density gradients, the experiments reveal the onset of nonlinear influences on propagation, leading to the formation of solitary waves. Comparisons with theory are also presented.