Asymptotics of the Far Fields of Internal Gravity Waves Excited by a Source of Radial Symmetry

Abstract

Abstract— The problem of the far field of internal gravity waves generated by a perturbation source of radial symmetry aroused at an initial instant of time is solved. The constant model distribution of the buoyancy frequency is considered and, using the Fourier–Hankel transform, an analytical solution to the problem is obtained in the form of the sum of wave modes. Asymptotics of the solutions that describe the spatial-temporal characteristics of elevation of the isopycnic lines and the vertical and horizontal velocity components far from the perturbation source are obtained. The asymptotics of the components of the wave field are expressed in terms of the square of the Airy function and its derivatives in the neighborhood of the wave fronts of an individual wave mode. The exact and asymptotic results are compared and it is shown that the asymptotic method makes it possible to calculate effectively the far wave fields at times of the order of ten and more of the Brunt–Väisälä periods.