Quantitative laboratory observations of internal wave reflection on ascending slopes

Internal waves propagate obliquely through a stratified fluid with an angle that is fixed with respect to gravity. Upon reflection on a sloping bed, striking phenomena are expected to occur close to the slope. We present here laboratory observations at moderately large Reynolds number. A particle image velocimetry technique is used to provide time-resolved velocity fields in large volumes. Generation of the second and third harmonic frequencies is clearly demonstrated in the impact zone. The mechanism for nonlinear wavelength selection is also discussed. Evanescent waves with frequency larger than the Brunt-Vaisala frequency are detected and experimental results agree very well with theoretical predictions. The amplitude of the different harmonics after reflection is also obtained. (C) 2006 American Institute of Physics.