Laboratory Experiments on Reflected Gravity Currents and Implications for Mixing

When a gravity current encounters a barrier, it is reflected as a moving hydraulic jump or bore. These reflected flows, which play a significant role in estuarine mixing and sediment transport, are often simplified in theoretical models as purely advective processes with no mixing and dilution effects. This study explores the dynamics of gravity currents fully blocked by various inclined barriers, focusing on the resulting mixing behavior. Using an image analysis technique based on light attenuation to capture instantaneous density fields, we reveal how the presence of a barrier influences the current even before impact. By applying the Thorpe scale to assess turbulent mixing, we show that a barrier’s geometry significantly affects mixing intensity. Notably, this study finds that barriers can increase the local turbulent mixing compared to horizontal surfaces.