Generation of internal gravity waves by an oscillating horizontal disc

Abstract

Internal gravity waves are generated in a stratified fluid by arbitrary forced oscillations of a horizontal disc. The wave fields are calculated in both the time domain and the frequency domain. In the time domain, an initial-value problem is solved using Laplace transforms; causality is imposed. In the frequency domain (time-harmonic oscillations), a radiation condition is imposed: a plane-wave (Fourier) decomposition is used in which waves with outgoing group velocity are selected. It is shown that both approaches lead to the same solution, once transient effects are ignored. Then, a method is given for calculating the far-field, using asymptotic approximations of double integrals. It is shown that the total energy flux is outwards, for arbitrary forcings of the disc. Further investigations of energy transport are made with a view to clarifying the nature of radiation conditions in the frequency domain.