Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under Rotation
Localized turbulence is common in geophysical flows, where the roles of rotation and stratification are paramount. In this study, we investigate the evolution of a stratified turbulent cloud under rotation. Recognizing that a turbulent cloud is composed of vortices of varying scales and shapes, we s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/10/1590 |
| _version_ | 1827721811891060736 |
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| author | Tianyi Li Minping Wan Shiyi Chen |
| author_facet | Tianyi Li Minping Wan Shiyi Chen |
| author_sort | Tianyi Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Localized turbulence is common in geophysical flows, where the roles of rotation and stratification are paramount. In this study, we investigate the evolution of a stratified turbulent cloud under rotation. Recognizing that a turbulent cloud is composed of vortices of varying scales and shapes, we start our investigation with a single eddy using analytical solutions derived from a linearized system. Compared to an eddy under pure rotation, the stratified eddy shows the physical manifestation of a known potential vorticity mode, appearing as a static stable vortex. In addition, the expected shift from inertial waves to inertial-gravity waves is observed. In our numerical simulations of the turbulent cloud, carried out at a constant Rossby number over a range of Froude numbers, stratification causes columnar structures to deviate from vertical alignment. This deviation increases with increasing stratification, slowing the expansion rate of the cloud. The observed characteristics of these columnar structures are consistent with the predictions of linear theory, particularly in their tilt angles and vertical growth rates, suggesting a significant influence of inertial-gravity waves. Using Lagrangian particle tracking, we have identified regions where wave activity dominates over turbulence. In scenarios of milder stratification, these inertial-gravity waves are responsible for a significant energy transfer away from the turbulent cloud, a phenomenon that attenuates with increasing stratification. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:27:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f53c6dd29fb94d6cb38ce6f05c8b8fe1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:27:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-f53c6dd29fb94d6cb38ce6f05c8b8fe12023-11-19T15:37:11ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-10-011410159010.3390/atmos14101590Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under RotationTianyi Li0Minping Wan1Shiyi Chen2Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Turbulence Research and Applications, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Turbulence Research and Applications, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Turbulence Research and Applications, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaLocalized turbulence is common in geophysical flows, where the roles of rotation and stratification are paramount. In this study, we investigate the evolution of a stratified turbulent cloud under rotation. Recognizing that a turbulent cloud is composed of vortices of varying scales and shapes, we start our investigation with a single eddy using analytical solutions derived from a linearized system. Compared to an eddy under pure rotation, the stratified eddy shows the physical manifestation of a known potential vorticity mode, appearing as a static stable vortex. In addition, the expected shift from inertial waves to inertial-gravity waves is observed. In our numerical simulations of the turbulent cloud, carried out at a constant Rossby number over a range of Froude numbers, stratification causes columnar structures to deviate from vertical alignment. This deviation increases with increasing stratification, slowing the expansion rate of the cloud. The observed characteristics of these columnar structures are consistent with the predictions of linear theory, particularly in their tilt angles and vertical growth rates, suggesting a significant influence of inertial-gravity waves. Using Lagrangian particle tracking, we have identified regions where wave activity dominates over turbulence. In scenarios of milder stratification, these inertial-gravity waves are responsible for a significant energy transfer away from the turbulent cloud, a phenomenon that attenuates with increasing stratification.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/10/1590localized turbulencestratificationrotationinertial-gravity waves |
| spellingShingle | Tianyi Li Minping Wan Shiyi Chen Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under Rotation Atmosphere localized turbulence stratification rotation inertial-gravity waves |
| title | Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under Rotation |
| title_full | Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under Rotation |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under Rotation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under Rotation |
| title_short | Evolution of a Stratified Turbulent Cloud under Rotation |
| title_sort | evolution of a stratified turbulent cloud under rotation |
| topic | localized turbulence stratification rotation inertial-gravity waves |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/10/1590 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tianyili evolutionofastratifiedturbulentcloudunderrotation AT minpingwan evolutionofastratifiedturbulentcloudunderrotation AT shiyichen evolutionofastratifiedturbulentcloudunderrotation |