The nonlinear evolution of zonally symmetric equatorial inertial instability

2003 ◽  
Vol 474 ◽  
pp. 245-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN D. GRIFFITHS
Keyword(s):  
Long Memory ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Zonal Flow ◽  
Nonlinear Regime ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Coriolis Parameter ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
Flow Change ◽  
Inertial Instability ◽  
The Mean

The inertial instability of equatorial shear flows is studied, with a view to understanding observed phenomena in the Earth's stratosphere and mesosphere. The basic state is a zonal flow of stratified fluid on an equatorial β-plane, with latitudinal shear. The simplest self-consistent model of the instability is used, so that the basic state and the disturbances are zonally symmetric, and a vertical diffusivity provides the scale selection. We study the interaction between the inertial instability, which takes the form of periodically varying disturbances in the vertical, and the mean flow, where ‘mean’ is a vertical mean.The weakly nonlinear regime is investigated analytically, for flows with an arbitrary dependence on latitude. An amplitude equation of the form dA/dt = A−k2A∫[mid ]A[mid ]2dt is derived for the disturbances, and the evolving stability properties of the mean flow are discussed. In the final steady state, the disturbances vanish, but there is a persistent mean flow change that stabilizes the flow. However, the magnitude of the mean flow change depends strongly on the initial conditions, so that the system has a long memory. The analysis is extended to include the effects of Rayleigh friction and Newtonian cooling, destroying the long-memory property.A more strongly nonlinear regime is investigated with the help of numerical simulations, extending the results up to the point where the instability leads to density contour overturning. The instability is shown to lead to a homogenization of fQ¯ around the initially unstable region, where f is the Coriolis parameter, and Q¯ is the vertical mean of the potential vorticity. As the instability evolves, the line of zero Q¯ moves polewards, rather than equatorwards as might be expected from a simple self-neutralization argument.

Effect of an Azimuthal Mean Flow On the Structure and Stability of Thermoacoustic Modes in an Annular Combustor Model with Electroacoustic Feedback

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain C. Humbert ◽  
Jonas Moeck ◽  
Alessandro Orchini ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Final State ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Acoustic Damping ◽  
Annular Combustor ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Mach ◽  
The Stability

Abstract Thermoacoustic oscillations in axisymmetric annular combustors are generally coupled by degenerate azimuthal modes, which can be of standing or spinning nature. Symmetry breaking due to the presence of a mean azimuthal flow splits the degenerate thermoacoustic eigenvalues, resulting in pairs of counter-spinning modes with close but distinct frequencies and growth rates. In this study, experiments have been performed using an annular system where the thermoacoustic feedback due to the flames is mimicked by twelve identical electroacoustic feedback loops. The mean azimuthal flow is generated by fans. We investigate the standing/spinning nature of the oscillations as a function of the Mach number for two types of initial states, and how the stability of the system is affected by the mean azimuthal flow. It is found that spinning, standing or mixed modes can be encountered at very low Mach number, but increasing the mean velocity promotes one spinning direction. At sufficiently high Mach number, spinning modes are observed in the limit cycle oscillations. In some cases, the initial conditions have a significant impact on the final state of the system. It is found that the presence of a mean azimuthal flow increases the acoustic damping. This has a beneficial effect on stability: it often reduces the amplitude of the self-sustained oscillations, and can even suppress them in some cases. However, we observe that the suppression of a mode due to the mean flow may destabilize another one. We discuss our findings in relation with an existing low-order model.

Fully coupled resonant-triad interactions in a free shear layer

1994 ◽  
Vol 278 ◽  
pp. 101-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mallier ◽  
S. A. Maslowe
Keyword(s):  
Flow Direction ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Adverse Pressure Gradient ◽  
Critical Layer ◽  
Free Shear Layer ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
Initial Interaction ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fully Coupled

We report the results of an investigation of the weakly nonlinear evolution of a triad of waves, each slightly amplified on a linear basis, that are superimposed on a tanh y mixing layer. The triad consists of a plane wave and a pair of oblique modes that act as a subharmonic of order 1/2. The oblique modes are inclined at approximately ±60°. to the mean flow direction and because the resonance conditions are satisfied exactly the analysis is entirely self-consistent as an asymptotic theory. The nonlinearity first occurs within the critical layer and the initial interaction is of the parametric resonance type. This produces faster than exponential growth of the oblique waves, behaviour observed recently in the experiments of Corke & Kusek (1993). The critical-layer dynamics lead subsequently to coupled integro-differential equations governing the amplitude evolution and, as first shown in related work by Goldstein & Lee (1992) on boundary layers in an adverse pressure gradient, these equations develop singularities in a finite time.

scholarly journals Response of Idealized Baroclinic Wave Life Cycles to Stratospheric Flow Conditions

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 2288-2302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torben Kunz ◽  
Klaus Fraedrich ◽  
Frank Lunkeit
Keyword(s):  
Refractive Index ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Spherical Geometry ◽  
Zonal Flow ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Baroclinic Wave ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
The North

Abstract Dynamical stratosphere–troposphere coupling through a response of baroclinic waves to lower stratospheric flow conditions is investigated from an initial value approach. A series of adiabatic and frictionless nonlinear baroclinic wave life cycles in a midlatitude tropospheric jet with different initial zonal flow conditions in the stratosphere is simulated, using a dry primitive equation model with spherical geometry. When a stratospheric jet, located at various latitudes between 35° and 70°, is removed from the initial conditions, the wavenumber-6 life cycle behavior changes from the well-known LC1 to LC2 evolution, characterized by anticyclonic and cyclonic wave breaking, respectively. Linear theory, in terms of refractive index and the structure of the corresponding fastest-growing normal mode, is found to be unable to explain this stratosphere-induced LC1 to LC2 transition. This implies that altered nonlinear wave–mean flow interactions are important. The most significant stratosphere-induced change that extends into the nonlinear baroclinic growth stage is a region of downward wave propagation in the lower stratosphere associated with positive values of the squared refractive index near 20 km. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the difference between the response of the tropospheric circulation to LC1 and LC2 life cycles closely resembles the meridional and vertical structure of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), with positive (negative) NAO-like anomalies being driven by LC1 (LC2). Thus, a weakened stratospheric jet induces the generation of negative NAO-like anomalies in the troposphere, consistent with the observed stratosphere–NAO connection.

scholarly journals Wave field and zonal flow of a librating disk

2015 ◽  
Vol 782 ◽  
pp. 178-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Le Dizès
Keyword(s):  
Wave Field ◽  
Rotation Rate ◽  
Zonal Flow ◽  
Shear Layers ◽  
Buoyancy Frequency ◽  
Frequency Interval ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Disk Radius ◽  
Harmonic Response ◽  
The Mean

In this work, we provide a viscous solution of the wave field generated by librating a disk (harmonic oscillation of the rotation rate) in a stably stratified rotating fluid. The zonal flow (mean flow correction) generated by the nonlinear interaction of the wave field is also calculated in the weakly nonlinear framework. We focus on the low dissipative limit relevant for geophysical applications and for which the wave field and the zonal flow exhibit generic features (Ekman scaling, universal structures, etc.). General expressions are obtained which depend on the disk radius $a^{\ast }$, the libration frequency ${\it\omega}^{\ast }$, the rotation rate ${\it\Omega}^{\ast }$ of the frame, the buoyancy frequency $N^{\ast }$ of the fluid, its kinematic diffusion ${\it\nu}^{\ast }$ and its thermal diffusivity ${\it\kappa}^{\ast }$. When the libration frequency is in the inertia-gravity frequency interval ($\min ({\it\Omega}^{\ast },N^{\ast })<{\it\omega}^{\ast }<\max ({\it\Omega}^{\ast },N^{\ast })$), the presence of conical internal shear layers is observed in which the spatial structures of the harmonic response and of the mean flow correction are provided. At the point of focus of these internal shear layers on the rotation axis, the largest amplitudes are obtained: the angular velocity of the harmonic response and the mean flow correction are found to be $O({\it\varepsilon}E^{-1/3})$ and $({\it\varepsilon}^{2}E^{-2/3})$ respectively, where ${\it\varepsilon}$ is the libration amplitude and $E={\it\nu}^{\ast }/({\it\Omega}^{\ast }a^{\ast 2})$ is the Ekman number. We show that the solution in the internal shear layers and in the focus region is at leading order the same as that generated by an oscillating source of axial flow localized at the edge of the disk (oscillating Dirac ring source).

Evolution of zero-pressure-gradient boundary layers from different tripping conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 783 ◽  
pp. 379-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Marusic ◽  
K. A. Chauhan ◽  
V. Kulandaivelu ◽  
N. Hutchins
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Flow Parameters ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Inflow Conditions

In this paper we study the spatial evolution of zero-pressure-gradient (ZPG) turbulent boundary layers from their origin to a canonical high-Reynolds-number state. A prime motivation is to better understand under what conditions reliable scaling behaviour comparisons can be made between different experimental studies at matched local Reynolds numbers. This is achieved here through detailed streamwise velocity measurements using hot wires in the large University of Melbourne wind tunnel. By keeping the unit Reynolds number constant, the flow conditioning, contraction and trip can be considered unaltered for a given boundary layer’s development and hence its evolution can be studied in isolation from the influence of inflow conditions by moving to different streamwise locations. Careful attention was given to the experimental design in order to make comparisons between flows with three different trips while keeping all other parameters nominally constant, including keeping the measurement sensor size nominally fixed in viscous wall units. The three trips consist of a standard trip and two deliberately ‘over-tripped’ cases, where the initial boundary layers are over-stimulated with additional large-scale energy. Comparisons of the mean flow, normal Reynolds stress, spectra and higher-order turbulence statistics reveal that the effects of the trip are seen to be significant, with the remnants of the ‘over-tripped’ conditions persisting at least until streamwise stations corresponding to $Re_{x}=1.7\times 10^{7}$ and $x=O(2000)$ trip heights are reached (which is specific to the trips used here), at which position the non-canonical boundary layers exhibit a weak memory of their initial conditions at the largest scales $O(10{\it\delta})$, where ${\it\delta}$ is the boundary layer thickness. At closer streamwise stations, no one-to-one correspondence is observed between the local Reynolds numbers ($Re_{{\it\tau}}$, $Re_{{\it\theta}}$ or $Re_{x}$ etc.), and these differences are likely to be the cause of disparities between previous studies where a given Reynolds number is matched but without account of the trip conditions and the actual evolution of the boundary layer. In previous literature such variations have commonly been referred to as low-Reynolds-number effects, while here we show that it is more likely that these differences are due to an evolution effect resulting from the initial conditions set up by the trip and/or the initial inflow conditions. Generally, the mean velocity profiles were found to approach a constant wake parameter ${\it\Pi}$ as the three boundary layers developed along the test section, and agreement of the mean flow parameters was found to coincide with the location where other statistics also converged, including higher-order moments up to tenth order. This result therefore implies that it may be sufficient to document the mean flow parameters alone in order to ascertain whether the ZPG flow, as described by the streamwise velocity statistics, has reached a canonical state, and a computational approach is outlined to do this. The computational scheme is shown to agree well with available experimental data.

scholarly journals Optimal Surface Excitation of the Thermohaline Circulation

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1820-1830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laure Zanna ◽  
Eli Tziperman
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Thermohaline Circulation ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Singular Problem ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
L2 Norm ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
The Mean

Abstract The amplification of thermohaline circulation (THC) anomalies resulting from heat and freshwater forcing at the ocean surface is investigated in a zonally averaged coupled ocean–atmosphere model. Optimal initial conditions of surface temperature and salinity leading to the largest THC growth are computed, and so are the structures of stochastic surface temperature and salinity forcing that excite maximum THC variance (stochastic optimals). When the THC amplitude is defined as its sum of squares (equivalent to using the standard L2 norm), the nonnormal linearized dynamics lead to an amplification with a time scale on the order of 100 yr. The optimal initial conditions have a vanishing THC anomaly, and the complex amplification mechanism involves the advection of both temperature and salinity anomalies by the mean flow and of the mean temperature and salinity by the anomaly flow. The L2 characterization of THC anomalies leads to physically interesting results, yet to a mathematically singular problem. A novel alternative characterizing the THC amplitude by its maximum value, as often done in general circulation model studies, is therefore introduced. This complementary method is shown to be equivalent to using the L-infinity norm, and the needed mathematical approach is developed and applied to the THC problem. Under this norm, an amplification occurs within 10 yr explained by the classic salinity advective feedback mechanism. The analysis of the stochastic optimals shows that the character of the THC variability may be very sensitive to the spatial pattern of the surface forcing. In particular, a maximum THC variance and long-time-scale variability are excited by a basin-scale surface forcing pattern, while a significantly higher frequency and to some extent a weaker variability are induced by a smooth and large-scale, yet mostly concentrated in polar areas, surface forcing pattern. Overall, the results suggest that a large THC variability can be efficiently excited by atmospheric surface forcing, and the simple model used here makes several predictions that would be interesting to test using more complex models.

scholarly journals Amplification of coherent streaks in the turbulent Couette flow: an input–output analysis at low Reynolds number

2010 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. 333-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
YONGYUN HWANG ◽  
CARLO COSSU
Keyword(s):  
Couette Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eddy Viscosity ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Viscous Sublayer ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Stochastic Forcing ◽  
Output Analysis ◽  
Optimal Response ◽  
The Mean

We compute the optimal response of the turbulent Couette mean flow to initial conditions, harmonic and stochastic forcing at Re = 750. The equations for the coherent perturbations are linearized near the turbulent mean flow and include the associated eddy viscosity. The mean flow is found to be linearly stable but it has the potential to amplify steamwise streaks from streamwise vortices. The most amplified structures are streamwise uniform and the largest amplifications of the energy of initial conditions and of the variance of stochastic forcing are realized by large-scale streaks having spanwise wavelengths of 4.4h and 5.2h respectively. These spanwise scales compare well with the ones of the coherent large-scale streaks observed in experimental realizations and direct numerical simulations of the turbulent Couette flow. The optimal response to the harmonic forcing, related to the sensitivity to boundary conditions and artificial forcing, can be very large and is obtained with steady forcing of structures with larger spanwise wavelength (7.7h). The optimal large-scale streaks are furthermore found proportional to the mean turbulent profile in the viscous sublayer and up to the buffer layer.

Multiple large-scale coherent mode interactions in a developing round jet

1993 ◽  
Vol 248 ◽  
pp. 383-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Soo Lee ◽  
J. T. C. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Differential Equations ◽  
Energy Method ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Nonlinear Differential Equations ◽  
Wave Mode ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Round Jet ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Integral Energy

The integral energy method has been used to study the nonlinear interactions of the large-scale coherent structure in a spatially developing round jet. The streamwise development of a jet is obtained in terms of the mean flow shear-layer momentum thickness, the wave-mode kinetic energy and the wave-mode phase angle. With the energy method, a system of partial differential equations is reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations. The nonlinear differential equations are solved with initial conditions which are given at the nozzle exit. It is shown that the initial wave-mode energy densities as well as the initial phase angles play a significant role in the streamwise evolution of the large-scale coherent wave modes and the mean flow.

scholarly journals Incidence and reflection of internal waves and wave-induced currents at a jump in buoyancy frequency

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-315
Author(s):  
J. P. McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Wave Packet ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Buoyancy Frequency ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
Transmitted Waves ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Induced Currents ◽  
Wave Induced ◽  
The Waves

Abstract. Weakly nonlinear internal gravity waves are treated in a two-layer fluid with a set of nonlinear Schrodinger equations. The layers have a sharp interface with a jump in buoyance frequency approximately modelling the tropopause. The waves are periodic in the horizontal but modulated in the vertical and Boussinesq flow is assumed. The equation governing the incident wave packet is directly coupled to the equation for the reflected packet, while the equation governing transmitted waves is only coupled at the interface. Solutions are obtained numerically. The results indicate that the waves create a mean flow that is strong near and underneath the interface, and discontinuous at the interface. Furthermore, the mean flow has an oscillatory component with a vertical wavelength that decreases as the wave packet interacts with the interface.

scholarly journals The Growth and Saturation of Submesoscale Instabilities in the Presence of a Barotropic Jet

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 2779-2797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan A. Stamper ◽  
John R. Taylor ◽  
Baylor Fox-Kemper
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Linear Stability ◽  
Linear Stability Analysis ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Boussinesq Equations ◽  
Small Region ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
The Mean

AbstractMotivated by recent observations of submesoscales in the Southern Ocean, we use nonlinear numerical simulations and a linear stability analysis to examine the influence of a barotropic jet on submesoscale instabilities at an isolated front. Simulations of the nonhydrostatic Boussinesq equations with a strong barotropic jet (approximately matching the observed conditions) show that submesoscale disturbances and strong vertical velocities are confined to a small region near the initial frontal location. In contrast, without a barotropic jet, submesoscale eddies propagate to the edges of the computational domain and smear the mean frontal structure. Several intermediate jet strengths are also considered. A linear stability analysis reveals that the barotropic jet has a modest influence on the growth rate of linear disturbances to the initial conditions, with at most a ~20% reduction in the growth rate of the most unstable mode. On the other hand, a basic state formed by averaging the flow at the end of the simulation with a strong barotropic jet is linearly stable, suggesting that nonlinear processes modify the mean flow and stabilize the front.

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