Nonlinear interfacial waves in a constant-vorticity planar flow over variable depth

Abstract

Exact Lagrangian in compact form is derived for planar internal waves in a two-fluid system with a relatively small density jump (the Boussinesq limit taking place in real oceanic conditions), in the presence of a background shear current of constant vorticity, and over arbitrary bottom profile. Long-wave asymptotic approximations of higher orders are derived from the exact Hamiltonian functional in a remarkably simple way, for two different parametrizations of the interface shape.

revtex, 4.5 pages, minor corrections, summary added, accepted to JETP Letters