Nonlinear Sciences – Chaotic Dynamics
Scientific paper
2005-12-02
Nonlinear Sciences
Chaotic Dynamics
8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in JFM
Scientific paper
10.1017/S0022112005008384
The behaviour of turbulent flows within the single-layer quasi-geostrophic (Charney--Hasegawa--Mima) model is shown to be strongly dependent on the Rossby deformation wavenumber $\lambda$ (or free-surface elasticity). Herein, we derive a bound on the inverse energy transfer, specifically on the growth rate $\d\ell/\dt$ of the characteristic length scale $\ell$ representing the energy centroid. It is found that $\d\ell/\dt\le2\norm q_\infty/(\ell_s\lambda^2)$, where $\norm q_\infty$ is the supremum of the potential vorticity and $\ell_s$ represents the potential enstrophy centroid of the reservoir, both invariant. This result implies that in the potential energy dominated regime ($\ell\ge\ell_s\gg\lambda^{-1}$), the inverse energy transfer is strongly impeded, in the sense that under the usual time scale no significant transfer of energy to larger scales occurs. The physical implication is that the elasticity of the free surface impedes turbulent energy transfer in wavenumber space, effectively rendering large-scale vortices long-lived and inactive. Results from numerical simulations of forced-dissipative turbulence confirm this prediction.
Dritschel David G.
Tran Chuong V.
No associations
LandOfFree
Impeded inverse energy transfer in the Charney--Hasegawa--Mima model of quasi-geostrophic flows does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Impeded inverse energy transfer in the Charney--Hasegawa--Mima model of quasi-geostrophic flows, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Impeded inverse energy transfer in the Charney--Hasegawa--Mima model of quasi-geostrophic flows will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-529923