Spectral Multigrid for Forced Internal Solitary Wave Computations

The generation of internal waves due to interactions with topography is significant in understanding the dynamics of the oceans and atmosphere, and consequently our weather and climate. In particular, breaking internal waves are important for the vertical transfer of mass and energy. This thesis develops an efficient numerical method for investigating steady, large-amplitude solutions of a two-dimensional model of internal waves forced by topography. The numerical method is used to follow a range of solutions to just prior to breaking, and hence enhance our understanding of breaking internal waves and simplified models of internal waves forced by topography.