Internal Wave Tank Demonstration

A short demonstration of internal waves using a tank filled with mineral oil and water. Rocking the tank simulates the tide-generating force acting on the world oceans. Internal waves are generated at submerged topography.

Credits:
Ed Zaron -- concept and apparatus
Adam Raitano -- filming, editing, and music

[Critter]

Utterly fascinating, plus I learned something new!!!! Music is spot on for the demo.

[zaid]

cool this was mentioned in the quran 1400 years ago:

In Surah An-Nur, Allah (SWT) has revealed: “Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds – darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light – for him there is no light” (Quran, 24:40).

[alberteinstein]

Other than the musuc that gives a bit of a headache (might just be me), the model is very well made! Helps a lot to understand the phenomenon!

[gregwarner]

How deep in the ocean do these internal waves form? I realize this is a demonstration not a scale model. It works very well.

[SrahadiSilva]

the surface looks so calm.. very chaotic in the under water..

[jameskaihatu]

Though it seems like there is not much going on at the interface when the seamount is removed, it's notable that the wavelength at the interface appears to be much shorter than that of the surface wave. Cool demo.

[PINKLoki]

The sub being lost brought me here. Such as horrendous way to go.

[marlonlyn]

I think this is a fantastic example. Thank you for the demonstration.

Would it be possible to create a similar experiment but instead flip the water and the oil?

The theory behind this is at much deeper depths the water pressure would be greater, hence the thicker fluid at the bottom.

If you were able to do this with a much bigger container and have two scales for reading pressure(one closer to the surface with water, the other one in the oil), I'm sure you would be able to demonstrate how an internal wave could create a pressure front with with a very large delta between the two.

I also came from watching a review on the Indonesian Submarine on which was stated an internal wave was most likely the candidate

[davidci]

What's the music used for this? It's so entrancing!

[WaveMotionMachines]

Where did you get the background photo at 02:45?

[mohammedmanaseer]

This was mentioned and explained in the holy quraan the muslims book 1500 years ago

[sarvarbekjaloliddinov]

Can we see internal waves with only human eyes ? Do we need any technology to see and identify it ?

[TemukanEsensiBerhidup]

Could oil really represent the upper layer of the ocean?

[fraga]

So this is internal wave...
The one that sunk our submarine Nanggala 402

[bi]

the viscosity of the mineral oil and the dyed water are the same?

[MrSaedAbdu]

Or ˹their deeds are˺ like the darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves upon waves, topped by ˹dark˺ clouds. Darkness upon darkness! If one stretches out their hand, they can hardly see it. And whoever Allah does not bless with light will have no light!
Ayah an-Nur (The Light) 24 : 40

[Grim_Beard]

So do submarines experience turbulence?

[iamtheralwus]

The music reminds me of I'm Poppy!

[lutzweb]

To Me this demonstration has little to do with the oceans simulation or with proper good experimental practice. Mineral oil and water has extremely different viscosity, while ocean water viscosity has not such a step gradient, and you do not have such a separation layer. then the waves you generate are giving energy to both the layers, like an earthwake will do in the real ocean. if you generate waves only on the top layer (as in reality waves are generated by wind), you will see that the bottom layer it is not affected. Again, the height of your mountain, seems very well designed to be just at the right height, and you are watching a tip over phenomen (same you will get with no oil).

[kuyilmoves]

( أَوْ كَظُلُمَاتٍ فِي بَحْرٍ لُّجِّيٍّ يَغْشَاهُ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ سَحَابٌ ۚ ظُلُمَاتٌ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَا أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَاهَا ۗ وَمَن لَّمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُورًا فَمَا لَهُ مِن نُّورٍ )

النور (40) An-Noor

അല്ലെങ്കില്‍ ആഴക്കടലിലെ ഇരുട്ടുകള്‍ പോലെയാകുന്നു. (അവരുടെ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങളുടെ ഉപമ) . തിരമാല അതിനെ (കടലിനെ) പൊതിയുന്നു. അതിനു മീതെ വീണ്ടും തിരമാല. അതിനു മീതെ കാര്‍മേഘം. അങ്ങനെ ഒന്നിനു മീതെ മറ്റൊന്നായി അനേകം ഇരുട്ടുകള്‍. അവന്‍റെ കൈ പുറത്തേക്ക് നീട്ടിയാല്‍ അതുപോലും അവന്‍ കാണുമാറാകില്ല. അല്ലാഹു ആര്‍ക്ക് പ്രകാശം നല്‍കിയിട്ടില്ലയോ അവന്ന് യാതൊരു പ്രകാശവുമില്ല.