Thermohaline staircase dynamics in the presence of nonlinear internal waves

Thermohaline staircases, generated by double-diffusive convection, are found in many regions of the ocean. Here, the potential impact of oceanic internal waves on the dynamics of these staircases is explored using weakly nonlinear theory. Recent results have shown that nonlinear self-interaction of internal waves at a density interface generates smaller scale harmonic waves (Diamessis et al. Dyn. Atm. Oceans 2014; Wunsch JFM 2017). This process applies to internal waves incident upon a thermohaline staircase. Energy transferred to harmonic waves may be trapped within the staircase, enhancing shear and potentially altering transport and/or layer sizes. Rotation is included, and variations with latitude are considered.