An Observation of Gravitational Collapse Caused by Turbulent Mixing

Abstract

A turbulent mixing layer, presumed to be caused by strong shear due to inertial waves, was observed from the research submarine USS Dolphin. As a consequence of the mixing, a density flux was set up. Although inertial waves exhibit motion on a much larger scale than turbulence, the horizontal extent of the waves has a limit. Therefore, a gravitational imbalance between the turbulent layer and its outside is expected. Data indicated that the gravitational imbalance created an intrusion, at the head of which high wavenumber internal waves were observed.