NUMERICAL STUDY OF SOLITARY WAVE TRANSFOR MATION IN A SHELF ZONE

Propagation of solitary density disturbances across the continental sl ope and frontal zone toward the shelf area of the ocean were studied n umerically. The source of the wave disturbances was placed within the thermocline, in its vicinity and at the continental edge. Nonlinear wa ve equations for vorticity, streamfunction and density were derived an d internal wave parameters were calculated. Solitary density disturban ces are shown to disintegrate with time into two wave trains. The nonl inearity and mean flows were found to effect the transformation of the wave disturbances more significantly over the continental slope and n ear the continental edge. A significant role of joint effects of the n onlinearity, currents bottom relief and stratification was noted in th e transformation of solitary waves.