Wind-induced turbulent entrainment across a stable density interface

Abstract

Turbulent entrainment across a density interface is studied in a laboratory wind–wave tank in which a stably stratified system consisting of two homogeneous fluid layers is introduced. The results indicate that the rate of change of the potential energy of the mixing layer is proportional to the rate of work done by the wind. However, only a very small fraction of the work done by the wind is used for interfacial mixing or developing a seasonal thermocline. A formula relating the entrainment rate to the density stratification and the wind-friction velocity is derived from the experimental results.