Transformation of small-amplitude internal waves passing over a bottom step in a two-layer fluid

The transformation of internal waves on a stepwise underwater obstacle is studied in the linear approximation. The transmission and reflection coefficients are derived for a two-layer fluid. The results are obtained and presented as functions of incident wave wavenumber, density ratio of layers, pycnocline position, and height of the bottom step. Excitation coefficients of evanescent modes are also calculated, and their importance is demonstrated. This allows one to estimate the number of evanescent modes necessary to take into account to attain the required accuracy for the transformation coefficients.