A breaking internal solitary wave —

A large amplitude internal solitary wave (ISW) in the laboratory. The ISW is subject to a shear force across its centre. If the shear is strong enough, the ISW breaks and Kelvin-Helmholtz billows are induced as shown. Visualisation is of neutrally buoyant (light-reflecting) tracer particles suspended in brine solution.

https://downloads.sms.cam.ac.uk/2531824/2531831.mp4