Stokes waves modulation by internal waves

Abstract

The effect of subsurface currents induced by internal waves on nonlinear surface waves is theoretically analyzed. An analytical and numerical solution of the modulation equations are found under the conditions close to the group velocity resonance. It is shown that smoothing of the down current surface waves is accompanied by a relatively high-frequency modulation while the profile of the opposing current is reproduced by the surface wave's envelope. Long surface waves can form the wave modulation forerunner ahead of the internal wave, while the relatively short surface waves create the trace of the internal wave. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.