On entrainment observed in laboratory and field experiments

Abstract

The consistency between results from mixing experiments in two-layered fjords and the results in the laboratory is investigated. The field data are interpreted by using a model in which the interfacial shear stress is regarded as the source of turbulent energy. Using the definition of the interfacial shear stress Τ1 = Ϸ₀u² = Ϸ0c₁U², where the drag coefficient c₁ is experimentally determined, the field results are found to agree quite well with the results of the laboratory experiments characterized by values of the overall Richardson number Ri_* in the interval 90 ˂ Ri_* ˂ 400.