Journal Article

The effect of a strong density step on blocked stratified flow over topography

Winters, Kraig B., Armi, Laurence, Jagannathan, Arjun

2020

Overview

The dynamical connection between topographic control and wave excitation aloft is investigated theoretically and numerically in the idealized setting of two-dimensional stratified flow over an isolated ridge. We consider a constant far upstream inflow with uniform stratification except for a sharp density step located above the height of the ridge crest. Below this step, the stratification is sufficiently strong that the low level flow is blocked upstream and a hydraulically controlled flow spills over the crest. Above the density step, the flow supports upward radiating waves. In the inviscid limit, a bifurcating isopycnal separates the hydraulically controlled overflow from the wave field aloft. We show that, depending on the height of the density step, the sharp interface can either remain approximately flat, above the controlled downslope flow, or plunge in the lee of the obstacle as part of the controlled overflow itself. Whether the interface plunges or not is a direct consequence of hydraulic control at the crest. The flow above the crest responds to the top of the sharp density step as if it were a virtual topography. We find that a plunging interface can excite a wave field aloft that is approximately six times as energetic, with 15 % higher pressure drag, than that in a comparable flow in which the interface remains approximately flat.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Bifurcations / Density / Fluid mechanics / Height / Hydraulic control / Inflow / Overflow / Pressure drag / Stratification / Stratified flow / Topography / Two dimensional flow / Upstream / Velocity / Wave excitation