Topography shapes the wavefield.
We study how ridge shape, asymmetry, and unresolved roughness change the internal waves generated by oscillating flow over bathymetry-like features.
Internal waves in stratified oceans, atmospheres, and laboratory tanks
Stratified Flow Research Lab
We study how tidal flow over seafloor topography generates internal waves, and how those hidden waves move energy through stratified oceans, atmospheres, and laboratory tanks. In the lab, we make the waves visible, isolate the physics, and connect measured motion to models that can scale outward.
Experiment
Stratified tanks and synthetic schlieren
Theory
Linear models and scaling arguments
Simulation
Numerical tests of wave energy pathways
Our central question
How is the internal wave energy spectrum generated?
Internal waves are generated any time the stable stratification of the ocean is disturbed. One of the greatest generators is tides consistently forcing ocean water back and forth over seafloor topography. We focus on the waves generated in this manner as well as mechanisms that result in a redistribution of energy across scales, causing wave propagation across ocean basins or local breaking and mixing.
Stratification can hide energy, then release it.
We investigate evanescent regions, turning depths, and variable buoyancy frequency profiles to understand when decaying waves become propagating internal waves.
Interactions redistribute energy.
We examine colliding beams, harmonic generation, and high-frequency wave interactions to learn how energy moves across scales.
Ocean motivation
Tides over topography launch hidden waves.
Internal waves move inside the water column along density gradients. We focus on how tidal currents over ridges, seamounts, and rough bathymetry convert energy into waves that can travel, interact, and mix the ocean.
Research areas
We turn layered-fluid motion into measurable wave mechanics.
Our work blends physical intuition with careful measurement. We use controlled experiments to reveal wave behavior that is difficult to isolate in the ocean or atmosphere, then compare those observations with analytical and numerical models.
Variable Stratification
We examine how buoyancy frequency profiles and turning depths determine whether energy decays locally or enters a propagating wavefield.
Topographic Generation
We test how the shape of a ridge or rough plateau changes wave amplitude, wavelength content, and kinetic energy distribution.
Energy Transfer
We follow wave energy across interactions, harmonics, and model scales so simplified descriptions stay connected to real dynamics.
Students and collaborators
We are a lab for people who like precise experiments and unruly fluids.
Students in our group learn to make hard-to-see physics visible: building experiments, processing images, comparing models, and asking where the energy goes next. We welcome prepared students and partners who want to work on stratified-flow questions with real consequences for ocean and atmospheric dynamics.