Self-induced shear instabilities by large amplitude internal waves*

Large amplitude internal waves in sharply stratified fluids can generate large shear flows supporting Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. This talk will present a combined theoretical and numerical study of this instability. Spectral analysis of the corresponding non-self adjoint Taylor-Goldstein type equation will be outlined and illustrated on a specific model of internal wave structure. Subsequently, we will focus upon the asymmetric intensification of the instability by weakly non-parallel shear perturbations along long wave shear profiles.