Nonlinear waves in marginally stable flows of Antarctic Bottom Water

Abstract

In this paper, we study internal waves and stratified flows in the Romanche Fracture Zone of the Mid Atlantic Ridge. Theoretical analysis involves mathematical formulation of stratified flows which uses LADCP- and CTD-data obtained from field observation in the cruises of RV Akademik Sergey Vavilov. We discuss the 2.5-layer model of the fluid with exponential stratification of both layers. The long-wave approximate model describing travelling waves is constructed by means of scaling procedure with a small Boussinesq parameter. It is demonstrated that solitary wave regimes can be affected by the Kelvin - Helmholtz instability arising due to interfacial velocity shear in upstream flow.