On turbulence in combined wave-current flows
Turbulence arising from the non-linear interaction between waves and currents is the driver of many processes of environmental and engineering interest. Notable examples include the exchange of greenhouse gases between water and the atmosphere or wave-dissipation and related issues associated with the protection of coastal regions from erosion and flooding. Our current understanding of turbulence in combined wave-current flows is however poor, due to theoretical as well as methodological issues. It is, in fact, well known that the interaction between bottom generated turbulence and waves is strongly non-linear and establishing controlled wave-current flows in laboratory settings is very challenging. In this seminar I will present some insights obtained from five years of research at the laboratory of Hydraulics and Fluid Mechanics at Politecnico di Torino, on how waves affect turbulence in open channel flows and, conversely, how waves are dissipated by current-generated turbulence, with a particular focus on currents developing over seagrass covered beds.
Contact Stefan Hoerner for more information or to schedule a discussion with the seminar speaker.