Internal wave simulation for different angles and shapes of continental shelf

The average slope of the continental shelf in the world ocean is 0.5 degrees and its width varies considerably. This paper illustrates experimental studies describing the internal wave run-up on different gradients of continental shelf varying from 0.2 degrees to 0.5 degrees. MIT general circulation model is configured with a variable grid, tidal information in the momentum equations and background stratification of density as initial fields to simulate internal waves. The model simulated density and temperature time-series is subjected to Fast Fourier Transform to compute the energy spectra of internal waves. The results reveal that the peak of internal wave activity varies spatially for different angles of the continental shelf. The experiments are further continued for concave coastline geometry to look at the internal wave energy distribution over the shelf. The results show that in a concave coastline the energy is large compared to a straight coastline inferring convergence of internal wave energy.