Experimental study of evolution and energy dissipation of internal solitary waves beneath the different sea ice models

The evolution, breaking, and energy dissipation of internal solitary waves (ISWs) beneath different sea ice models were investigated using dye-tracing labeling and a wave-flow measurement technique. The ISW waveform exhibited various phenomena including a narrower wave width, smaller wave height, fission, or flipping after passing through ices. The wave amplitude decreased at the front slope and increased at the back slope. The wave speed decreased at the front slope, while it initially slightly increased and then decreased (Gaussian, triangular ice) or remained unchanged before then decreasing (rectangular ice) at the back slope. The wave surface was uplifted and the windward side of the wave evolved into a vortex. The time and location of these phenomena were closely related to the shape and height of the ice. The thickness of the upper fluid was influenced by different ices, causing a change in the intensity of the flow field. The energy dissipation was mainly caused by the frictional effect at the front slope and wave breaking at the back slope. The energy dissipation rate beneath the different ices increased in the order of Gaussian, triangular, and rectangular ice, and the higher the Gaussian ice, the greater the energy dissipation rate.