Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1029/2005GL024678
Title (Primary) Ray waves in a pit lake
Author Boehrer, B.; Stevens, C.
Source Titel Geophysical Research Letters
Year 2005
Department SEEFO
Volume 32
Issue 24
Page From L24608
Language englisch
Abstract [1] The special basin shape of Island Copper mine pit-lake and its sharp salinity stratification make it an ideal place to investigate ray waves, or internal wave beams, as the more recent oceanographic literature tends to name the observed phenomenon. A first-mode internal seiche oscillates the deep water vertically over the regular bench structure of the sidewalls at a distinct frequency. Theoretical considerations show the disturbances result in internal wave beams traversing the stratified water body at a known angle. Steep sidewalls prevent the ray waves from being trapped in the beach zone. Instead the reflection at the extremely strong pycnocline creates a vertical interference pattern. Here we numerically derive the vertical length scale of this interference to be 0.43 m. This scale is in full agreement with the repeated turbulence pattern discovered underneath the pycnocline.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=3205
Boehrer, B., Stevens, C. (2005):
Ray waves in a pit lake
Geophys. Res. Lett. 32 (24), L24608 10.1029/2005GL024678