Can the atmospheric kinetic energy spectrum be explained by two-dimensional turbulence?

1999 ◽  
Vol 388 ◽  
pp. 259-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
ERIK LINDBORG
Keyword(s):  
Energy Spectrum ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Separation Distance ◽  
Inertial Range ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Kinetic Energy Spectrum ◽  
The Third

The statistical features of turbulence can be studied either through spectral quantities, such as the kinetic energy spectrum, or through structure functions, which are statistical moments of the difference between velocities at two points separated by a variable distance. In this paper structure function relations for two-dimensional turbulence are derived and compared with calculations based on wind data from 5754 airplane flights, reported in the MOZAIC data set. For the third-order structure function two relations are derived, showing that this function is generally positive in the two-dimensional case, contrary to the three-dimensional case. In the energy inertial range the third-order structure function grows linearly with separation distance and in the enstrophy inertial range it grows cubically with separation distance. A Fourier analysis shows that the linear growth is a reflection of a constant negative spectral energy flux, and the cubic growth is a reflection of a constant positive spectral enstrophy flux. Various relations between second-order structure functions and spectral quantities are also derived. The measured second-order structure functions can be divided into two different types of terms, one of the form r2/3, giving a k−5/3-range and another, including a logarithmic dependence, giving a k−3-range in the energy spectrum. The structure functions agree better with the two-dimensional isotropic relation for larger separations than for smaller separations. The flatness factor is found to grow very fast for separations of the order of some kilometres. The third-order structure function is accurately measured in the interval [30, 300] km and is found to be positive. The average enstrophy flux is measured as Πω≈1.8×10−13 s−3 and the constant in the k−3-law is measured as [Kscr ]≈0.19. It is argued that the k−3-range can be explained by two-dimensional turbulence and can be interpreted as an enstrophy inertial range, while the k−5/3-range can probably not be explained by two-dimensional turbulence and should not be interpreted as a two-dimensional energy inertial range.

A note on Kolmogorov's third-order structure-function law, the local isotropy hypothesis and the pressure–velocity correlation

1996 ◽  
Vol 326 ◽  
pp. 343-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Lindborg
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Strain Tensor ◽  
Inertial Range ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Velocity Correlation ◽  
Third Order ◽  
The Third ◽  
Point Pressure

We show that Kolmogorov's (1941b) inertial-range law for the third-order structure function can be derived from a dynamical equation including pressure terms and mean flow gradient terms. A new inertial-range law, relating the two-point pressure–velocity correlation to the single-point pressure–strain tensor, is also derived. This law shows that the two-point pressure–velocity correlation, just like the third-order structure function, grows linearly with the separation distance in the inertial range. The physical meaning of both this law and Kolmogorov's law is illustrated by a Fourier analysis. An inertial-range law is also derived for the third-order velocity–enstrophy structure function of two-dimensional turbulence. It is suggested that the second-order vorticity structure function of two-dimensional turbulence is constant and scales with$\epsilon ^{2/3}_\omega$in the enstrophy inertial range, εωbeing the enstrophy dissipation. Owing to the constancy of this law, it does not imply a Fourier-space inertial-range law, and therefore it is not equivalent to thek−1law for the enstrophy spectrum, suggested by Kraichnan (1967) and Batchelor (1969).

Applicability of Kolmogorov's and Monin's equations of turbulence

1997 ◽  
Vol 353 ◽  
pp. 67-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
REGINALD J. HILL
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Inertial Range ◽  
Homogeneous Turbulence ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Local Isotropy ◽  
The Third ◽  
Moderate Reynolds Number ◽  
Wide Range

The equation relating second- and third-order velocity structure functions was presented by Kolmogorov; Monin attempted to derive that equation on the basis of local isotropy. Recently, concerns have been raised to the effect that Kolmogorov's equation and an ancillary incompressibility condition governing the third-order structure function were proven only on the restrictive basis of isotropy and that the statistic involving pressure that appears in the derivation of Kolmogorov's equation might not vanish on the basis of local isotropy. These concerns are resolved. In so doing, results are obtained for the second- and third-order statistics on the basis of local homogeneity without use of local isotropy. These results are applicable to future studies of the approach toward local isotropy. Accuracy of Kolmogorov's equation is shown to be more sensitive to anisotropy of the third-order structure function than to anisotropy of the second-order structure function. Kolmogorov's 4/5 law for the inertial range of the third-order structure function is obtained without use of the incompressibility conditions on the second- and third-order structure functions. A generalization of Kolmogorov's 4/5 law, which applies to the inertial range of locally homogeneous turbulence at very large Reynolds numbers, is shown to also apply to the energy-containing range for the more restrictive case of stationary, homogeneous turbulence. The variety of derivations of Kolmogorov's and Monin's equations leads to a wide range of applicability to experimental conditions, including, in some cases, turbulence of moderate Reynolds number.

Exact third-order structure functions for two-dimensional turbulence

2018 ◽  
Vol 851 ◽  
pp. 672-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Han Xie ◽  
Oliver Bühler
Keyword(s):  
Structure Functions ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Transfer Rates ◽  
The Third ◽  
Random Forcing ◽  
Asymptotic Expressions ◽  
Special Case

We derive and investigate exact expressions for third-order structure functions in stationary isotropic two-dimensional turbulence, assuming a statistical balance between random forcing and dissipation both at small and large scales. Our results extend previously derived asymptotic expressions in the enstrophy and energy inertial ranges by providing uniformly valid expressions that apply across the entire non-dissipative range, which, importantly, includes the forcing scales. In the special case of white noise in time forcing this leads to explicit predictions for the third-order structure functions, which are successfully tested against previously published high-resolution numerical simulations. We also consider spectral energy transfer rates and suggest and test a simple robust diagnostic formula that is useful when forcing is applied at more than one scale.

Third-order structure function relations for quasi-geostrophic turbulence

2007 ◽  
Vol 572 ◽  
pp. 255-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
ERIK LINDBORG
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Longitudinal Structure ◽  
The Third ◽  
Inverse Cascade ◽  
Geostrophic Turbulence ◽  
Potential Enstrophy

We derive two third-order structure function relations for quasi-geostrophic turbulence, one for the forward cascade of potential enstrophy and one for the inverse cascade of energy. These relations are the counterparts of Kolmovorov's (1941) four-fifths law for the third-order longitudinal structure functions of three-dimensional turbulence.

Implicit Large Eddy Simulation of Two-Dimensional Homogeneous Turbulence Using Weighted Compact Nonlinear Scheme

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiichi Ishiko ◽  
Naofumi Ohnishi ◽  
Kazuyuki Ueno ◽  
Keisuke Sawada
Keyword(s):  
Energy Spectrum ◽  
Inertial Range ◽  
Homogeneous Turbulence ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Third Order ◽  
The Third ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Numerical Viscosity ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Implicit Large Eddy Simulation

For the aim of computing compressible turbulent flowfield involving shock waves, an implicit large eddy simulation (LES) code has been developed based on the idea of monotonically integrated LES. We employ the weighted compact nonlinear scheme (WCNS) not only for capturing possible shock waves but also for attaining highly accurate resolution required for implicit LES. In order to show that WCNS is a proper choice for implicit LES, a two-dimensional homogeneous turbulence is first obtained by solving the Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible flow. We compare the inertial range in the computed energy spectrum with that obtained by the direct numerical simulation (DNS) and also those given by the different LES approaches. We then obtain the same homogeneous turbulence by solving the equations for compressible flow. It is shown that the present implicit LES can reproduce the inertial range in the energy spectrum given by DNS fairly well. A truncation of energy spectrum occurs naturally at high wavenumber limit indicating that dissipative effect is included properly in the present approach. A linear stability analysis for WCNS indicates that the third order interpolation determined in the upwind stencil introduces a large amount of numerical viscosity to stabilize the scheme, but the same interpolation makes the scheme weakly unstable for waves satisfying kΔx≈1. This weak instability results in a slight increase in the energy spectrum at high wavenumber limit. In the computed result of homogeneous turbulence, a fair correlation is shown to exist between the locations where the magnitude of ∇×ω becomes large and where the weighted combination of the third order interpolations in WCNS deviates from the optimum ratio to increase the amount of numerical viscosity. Therefore, the numerical viscosity involved in WCNS becomes large only at the locations where the subgrid-scale viscosity can arise in ordinary LES. This suggests the reason why the present implicit LES code using WCNS can resolve turbulent flowfield reasonably well.

scholarly journals Third-order structure functions in rotating and stratified turbulence: a comparison between numerical, analytical and observational results

2014 ◽  
Vol 755 ◽  
pp. 294-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Deusebio ◽  
P. Augier ◽  
E. Lindborg
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Energy Cascade ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Stratified Turbulence ◽  
Third Order ◽  
The Third ◽  
Spectral Flux

AbstractFirst, we review analytical and observational studies on third-order structure functions including velocity and buoyancy increments in rotating and stratified turbulence and discuss how these functions can be used in order to estimate the flux of energy through different scales in a turbulent cascade. In particular, we suggest that the negative third-order velocity–temperature–temperature structure function that was measured by Lindborg & Cho (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 85, 2000, p. 5663) using stratospheric aircraft data may be used in order to estimate the downscale flux of available potential energy (APE) through the mesoscales. Then, we calculate third-order structure functions from idealized simulations of forced stratified and rotating turbulence and compare with mesoscale results from the lower stratosphere. In the range of scales with a downscale energy cascade of kinetic energy (KE) and APE we find that the third-order structure functions display a negative linear dependence on separation distance $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}} r $, in agreement with observation and supporting the interpretation of the stratospheric data as evidence of a downscale energy cascade. The spectral flux of APE can be estimated from the relevant third-order structure function. However, while the sign of the spectral flux of KE is correctly predicted by using the longitudinal third-order structure functions, its magnitude is overestimated by a factor of two. We also evaluate the third-order velocity structure functions that are not parity invariant and therefore display a cyclonic–anticyclonic asymmetry. In agreement with the results from the stratosphere, we find that these functions have an approximate $ r^{2} $-dependence, with strong dominance of cyclonic motions.

scholarly journals Shallow water wave turbulence

2019 ◽  
Vol 874 ◽  
pp. 1169-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Augier ◽  
Ashwin Vishnu Mohanan ◽  
Erik Lindborg
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
Water Wave ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Wave Turbulence ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Shallow Water Wave ◽  
The Mean

The dynamics of irrotational shallow water wave turbulence forced at large scales and dissipated at small scales is investigated. First, we derive the shallow water analogue of the ‘four-fifths law’ of Kolmogorov turbulence for a third-order structure function involving velocity and displacement increments. Using this relation and assuming that the flow is dominated by shocks, we develop a simple model predicting that the shock amplitude scales as $(\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}d)^{1/3}$, where $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}$ is the mean dissipation rate and $d$ the mean distance between the shocks, and that the $p$th-order displacement and velocity structure functions scale as $(\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}d)^{p/3}r/d$, where $r$ is the separation. Then we carry out a series of forced simulations with resolutions up to $7680^{2}$, varying the Froude number, $F_{f}=(\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}L_{f})^{1/3}/c$, where $L_{f}$ is the forcing length scale and $c$ is the wave speed. In all simulations a stationary state is reached in which there is a constant spectral energy flux and equipartition between kinetic and potential energy in the constant flux range. The third-order structure function relation is satisfied with a high degree of accuracy. Mean energy is found to scale approximately as $E\sim \sqrt{\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}L_{f}c}$, and is also dependent on resolution, indicating that shallow water wave turbulence does not fit into the paradigm of a Richardson–Kolmogorov cascade. In all simulations shocks develop, displayed as long thin bands of negative divergence in flow visualisations. The mean distance between the shocks is found to scale as $d\sim F_{f}^{1/2}L_{f}$. Structure functions of second and higher order are found to scale in good agreement with the model. We conclude that in the weak limit, $F_{f}\rightarrow 0$, shocks will become denser and weaker and finally disappear for a finite Reynolds number. On the other hand, for a given $F_{f}$, no matter how small, shocks will prevail if the Reynolds number is sufficiently large.

Two-dimensional isotropic inertia–gravity wave turbulence

2019 ◽  
Vol 872 ◽  
pp. 752-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Han Xie ◽  
Oliver Bühler
Keyword(s):  
Total Energy ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Vertical Plane ◽  
Boussinesq Equations ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Wave Turbulence ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Third Order

We present an idealized study of rotating stratified wave turbulence in a two-dimensional vertical slice model of the Boussinesq equations, focusing on the peculiar case of equal Coriolis and buoyancy frequencies. In this case the fully nonlinear fluid dynamics can be shown to be isotropic in the vertical plane, which allows the classical methods of isotropic turbulence to be applied. Contrary to ordinary two-dimensional turbulence, here a robust downscale flux of total energy is observed in numerical simulations that span the full parameter regime between Ozmidov and forcing scales. Notably, this robust downscale flux of the total energy does not hold separately for its various kinetic and potential components, which can exhibit both upscale and downscale fluxes, depending on the parameter regime. Using a suitable extension of the classical Kármán–Howarth–Monin equation, exact expressions that link third-order structure functions and the spectral energy flux are derived and tested against numerical results. These expressions make obvious that even though the total energy is robustly transferred downscale, the third-order structure functions are sign indefinite, which illustrates that the sign and the form of measured third-order structure functions are both crucially important in determining the direction of the spectral energy transfer.

scholarly journals Exact second-order structure-function relationships

2002 ◽  
Vol 468 ◽  
pp. 317-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
REGINALD J. HILL
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Energy Dissipation Rate ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Navier Stokes Equation ◽  
Local Isotropy

Equations that follow from the Navier–Stokes equation and incompressibility but with no other approximations are ‘exact’. Exact equations relating second- and third- order structure functions are studied, as is an exact incompressibility condition on the second-order velocity structure function. Opportunities for investigations using these equations are discussed. Precisely defined averaging operations are required to obtain exact averaged equations. Ensemble, temporal and spatial averages are all considered because they produce different statistical equations and because they apply to theoretical purposes, experiment and numerical simulation of turbulence. Particularly simple exact equations are obtained for the following cases: (i) the trace of the structure functions, (ii) DNS that has periodic boundary conditions, and (iii) an average over a sphere in r-space. Case (iii) introduces the average over orientations of r into the structure-function equations. The energy dissipation rate ε appears in the exact trace equation without averaging, whereas in previous formulations ε appears after averaging and use of local isotropy. The trace mitigates the effect of anisotropy in the equations, thereby revealing that the trace of the third-order structure function is expected to be superior for quantifying asymptotic scaling laws. The orientation average has the same property.

scholarly journals Impacts of Convergence on Structure Functions from Surface Drifters in the Gulf of Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 675-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Pearson ◽  
Baylor Fox-Kemper ◽  
Roy Barkan ◽  
Jun Choi ◽  
Annalisa Bracco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Structure Functions ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Order Structure ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Second Order Statistics ◽  
Surface Drifter ◽  
Sign Change ◽  
Surface Drifters

AbstractThere are limitations in approximating Eulerian statistics from surface drifters, due to biases from surface convergences. By contrasting second- and third-order Eulerian and surface drifter structure functions obtained from a model of the Gulf of Mexico, the consequences of the semi-Lagrangian nature of observations during the summer Grand Lagrangian Deployment (GLAD) and winter Lagrangian Submesoscale Experiment (LASER) are estimated. By varying launch pattern and location, the robustness and sensitivity of these statistics are evaluated. Over scales less than 10 km, second-order structure functions of surface drifters consistently have shallower slopes (~r2/3) than Eulerian statistics (~r), suggesting that surface drifter structure functions differ systematically and do not reproduce the scalings of the Eulerian fields. Medians of Eulerian and cluster release second-order statistics are also significantly different across all scales. Synthetic cluster release statistics depend on launch location and weakly on launch pattern. The observations suggest little seasonal difference in the second-order statistics, but the LASER third-order structure function shows a sign change around 1 km, while GLAD and the synthetic cluster releases show a third-order structure function sign change around 10 km. Further, synthetic surface drifter cluster releases (and therefore likely the GLAD observations) show robust biases in the negative third-order structure functions, which may lead to significant overestimation of the spectral energy flux and underestimation of the transition scale to a forward energy cascade. The Helmholtz decomposition, and curl and divergence statistics, of Eulerian and cluster releases differ, particularly on scales less than 10 km, in agreement with observations of drifters preferentially sampling convergences in coherent structures.

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