Author(s): K.M. Faust; E.J. Plate

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Abstract: Fluid intrusions into a stably stratified environment due to density differences can be observed in reservoirs, lakes, in the atmosphere, and also in the ocean. Laboratory experiments have been carried out in a water tank to study the influence of fluid depth, initial density difference, shape of initial density distribution, time and viscosity on velocity and thickness of such intrusions. The influence of the density gradient at the intrusion level can be described by an empirical function. The case of a very sharp interface gradient is compared with previously published results and with boundary gravity currents. A continuously linearly stratified ambient, on the other hand, allows a comparison with the case of the so-called mixed region collapse. Only for these extreme cases there exists close agreement of theoretical models and experiments and it must be concluded that intrusions are not yet fully understood theoretically.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221688409499368

Year: 1984