Large fully nonlinear internal solitary waves: The effect of background current

In this paper we consider what effect the presence of a nonconstant background current has on the properties of large, fully nonlinear solitary internal waves in a shallow, stratified ocean. In particular, we discuss how the amplitude of the largest nonbreaking wave that it is possible to calculate depends on the background current as well as the nature of the upper bound. We find that the maximum wave amplitude is given by one of three possibilities: The onset of wave breaking, the conjugate flow amplitude or a failure of the wave calculating algorithm to converge (associated with shear instability). We also discuss how wave properties such as propagation speed, half-width, etc. vary with background current amplitude.