Experimental evidence of internal solitary wave-induced global instability in shallow water benthic boundary layers

Experimental evidence is presented in support of the theoretical prediction of Diamessis and Redekopp [J. Phys. Oceanogr. 36, 784 (2006)] for wave-induced vortex shedding at the lower solid boundary of a stratified fluid system as a result of global instability. The time-dependent boundary layer induced by a strongly nonlinear internal wave of depression in shallow water is examined experimentally. Measurements of the velocity field close to the bottom boundary illustrate coherent periodic shedding of vortex structures at the lower boundary in the adverse pressure gradient region aft of the wave. The vortical structures ascend high into the water column and cause significant benthic turbulence. It is shown that global instability has a critical threshold dependent on the Reynolds number of the flow and the amplitude of the wave. The critical amplitudes observed are approximately half that predicted by Diamessis and Redekopp [J. Phys. Oceanogr. 36, 784 (2006)], indicating that internal wave-induced benthic mixing may be even more prominent than previously thought.