Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Theories and numerical models of atmospheres and oceans are based on classical mechanics with added parameterizations to represent subgrid variability. Reformulated in terms of derivatives of information entropy with respect to large scale configurations, we find systematic forces very different fro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2009-08-01
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| Series: | Entropy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/11/3/360/ |
| _version_ | 1798041590180085760 |
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| author | Greg Holloway |
| author_facet | Greg Holloway |
| author_sort | Greg Holloway |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Theories and numerical models of atmospheres and oceans are based on classical mechanics with added parameterizations to represent subgrid variability. Reformulated in terms of derivatives of information entropy with respect to large scale configurations, we find systematic forces very different from those usually assumed. Two examples are given. We see that entropic forcing by ocean eddies systematically drives, rather than retards, large scale circulation. Additionally we find that small scale turbulence systematically drives up gradient (“un-mixing”) fluxes. Such results confront usual understanding and modeling practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:23:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f559ff6019a4638bb6583efcedf830f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1099-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:23:38Z |
| publishDate | 2009-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f559ff6019a4638bb6583efcedf830f2022-12-22T03:59:55ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002009-08-0111336038310.3390/e11030360Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid DynamicsGreg HollowayTheories and numerical models of atmospheres and oceans are based on classical mechanics with added parameterizations to represent subgrid variability. Reformulated in terms of derivatives of information entropy with respect to large scale configurations, we find systematic forces very different from those usually assumed. Two examples are given. We see that entropic forcing by ocean eddies systematically drives, rather than retards, large scale circulation. Additionally we find that small scale turbulence systematically drives up gradient (“un-mixing”) fluxes. Such results confront usual understanding and modeling practice.http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/11/3/360/turbulencewavesocean circulationmixingsubgrid modeling |
| spellingShingle | Greg Holloway Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Entropy turbulence waves ocean circulation mixing subgrid modeling |
| title | Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics |
| title_full | Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics |
| title_short | Entropic Forces in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics |
| title_sort | entropic forces in geophysical fluid dynamics |
| topic | turbulence waves ocean circulation mixing subgrid modeling |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/11/3/360/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gregholloway entropicforcesingeophysicalfluiddynamics |