The generation and quantitative visualization of breaking internal waves

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New techniques for the generation and quantitative visualization of breaking progressive internal waves are presented. Laboratory techniques applicable to general stratified flow experiments are also demonstrated. The planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique is used to produce calibrated images of the wave breaking process, and the details of the PLIF measurements are described in terms of the necessary corrections and considerations for the application of PLIF to stratified flows. Results of the flow visualization and wave generation techniques are presented, which show that the nature of internal wave breaking is strongly dependent on the type of breaking internal wave considered.