QG-DL-Ekman: Dynamics of a diabatic layer in the quasi-geostrophic framework

Quasi-geostrophic (QG) theory describes the dynamics of synoptic scale flows in the troposphere that are balanced with respect to both acoustic and internal gravity waves. Within this framework, effects of (turbulent) friction near the ground are usually represented by Ekman Layer theory. The troposphere covers roughly the lowest ten kilometers of the atmosphere while Ekman layer heights are typically just a few hundred meters. However, this two-layer asymptotic theory does not explicitly account for substantial changes of the potential temperature stratification due to diabatic heating associated with cloud formation or with radiative and turbulent heat fluxes which can be significant in about the lowest three kilometers and in the middle latitudes. To address this deficiency, this paper extends the classical QG–Ekman layer model by introducing an intermediate dynamically and thermodynamically active layer, called the “diabatic layer” (DL) from here on. The flow in this layer is also in acoustic, hydrostatic, and geostrophic balance but, in contrast to QG flow, variations of potential temperature are not restricted to small deviations from a stable and time independent background stratification. Instead, within the DL diabatic processes are allowed to affect the leading-order stratification. As a consequence, this layer modifies the pressure field at the top of the Ekman layer, and with it the intensity of Ekman pumping seen by the quasi-geostrophic bulk flow. The result is the proposed extended quasi-geostrophic three-layer QG-DL-Ekman model for mid-latitude dynamics.

Measurement of Step Responses of Flowrate in a Pipe Using a Kalman-Filtering Laminar Flowmeter

The aim of our research project is to develop a Kalman filter system which estimates unsteady flowrate of a pipe using a laminar flowmeter. In this study, incompressible flow is assumed as working fluid. When the flow becomes turbulent, it is difficult to establish flow model for turbulent friction. In this study, a laminar flowmeter is constructed in which thirty-two narrow pipes of 1mm in inner diameter are bundled and inserted in main flow path. When fluid flow in the narrow pipe is laminar flow, the Kalman filter theory can be applied to the flow of the narrow pipe. Kalman filter is applied to one of narrow pipes of laminar flowmeter. Both upstream and downstream pressure signals of the targeted narrow pipe are input to the Kalman filter. Midpoint pressure measured by a pressure sensor is compared with midpoint pressure signal which is estimated by the Kalman filter. When flow is laminar flow or the system has linear characteristics, an error signal between estimated pressure and measured pressure decreases according to Kalman filter principle. As a result, because the state variables of the Kalman filter converge to real variables, unsteady flowrate is estimated from the state variables of the Kalman filter. Experimental calibration of the Kalman-filtering laminar flowmeter under steady-state flow condition has been performed. In this study, experiments of step response of flowrate in a pipe are conducted by constructing an experimental circuit using solenoid valves. The purpose of experiment is confirmation of a response time of the Kalman-filtering laminar flowmeter. As a result of experiments, it was shown that the response time is 0.05s.

Emulator-based global sensitivity analysis for flow-like landslide run-out models

Landslide run-out modeling involves various uncertainties originating from model input data. It is therefore desirable to assess the model’s sensitivity to these uncertain inputs. A global sensitivity analysis that is capable of exploring the entire input space and accounts for all interactions often remains limited due to computational challenges resulting from a large number of necessary model runs. We address this research gap by integrating Gaussian process emulation into landslide run-out modeling and apply it to the open-source simulation tool r.avaflow. The feasibility and efficiency of our approach is illustrated based on the 2017 Bondo landslide event. The sensitivity of aggregated model outputs, such as the angle of reach, impact area, and spatially resolved maximum flow height and velocity, to the dry-Coulomb friction coefficient, turbulent friction coefficient, and the release volume is studied. The results of first-order effects are consistent with previous results of common one-at-a-time sensitivity analyses. In addition to that, our approach allows us to rigorously investigate interactions. Strong interactions are detected on the margins of the flow path where the expectation and variation of maximum flow height and velocity are small. The interactions generally become weak with an increasing variation of maximum flow height and velocity. Besides, there are stronger interactions between the two friction coefficients than between the release volume and each friction coefficient. In the future, it is promising to extend the approach for other computationally expensive tasks like uncertainty quantification, model calibration, and smart early warning.

PIV measurement of turbulence over a streamwise preferential porous medium

This study examines the possibility of orthotropic porous medium whose streamwise permeability is larger than the wall-normal permeability to reduce turbulent friction inspired by recent numerical studies of Rosti et al. (2018); G´omez-de Segura and Garc´ıa-Mayoral (2019). Because G´omez-de Segura and Garc´ıa-Mayoral (2019) used Brinkman equation to approximate the flow in the porous media, it is uncertain that such porous media really reduce the friction. We make a layered porous medium, which satisfies the drag reducing condition suggested by G´omez-de Segura and Garc´ıa-Mayoral (2019), and carry out particle image velocimetry measurements of turbulent square duct flows over it and examine the drag reduction probability. From the analyses of the obtained data, it is found that the friction on the porous-wall is nearly the same as that of the smooth-wall at Reb < 10000 and tends to increase at Reb > 10000.

Dynamics of a Diabatic Layer in the quasi-geostrophic framework

&lt;p&gt;Quasi-geostrophic (QG) theory describes the dynamics of synoptic scale flows in the trophosphere that are balanced with respect to both acoustic and internal gravity waves. Within this framework, effects of (turbulent) friction near the ground are usually represented by invoking Ekman Layer theory. The troposphere covers roughly the lowest ten kilometers of the atmosphere while Ekman layer heights are typically just a few hundred meters. However, this two-layer asymptotic theory does not explicitly account for substantial changes of the potential temperature stratification due to diabatic heating associated with cloud formation or with radiative or turbulent heat fluxes, which, in the middle latitudes, can be particularly important in roughly the lowest three kilometers. To alleviate this constraint, this work extends the classical QG plus Ekman layer model by introducing an intermediate, dynamically and thermodynamically active layer, called the &quot;Diabatic Layer&quot; here. The flow in this layer is also in acoustic, hydrostatic, and geostrophic balance but, in contrast to QG flow, variations of potential temperature are not restricted to small deviations from a stable and time independent background stratification. Instead, within this layer, diabatic processes are allowed to affect the leading-order stratification. As a consequence, the Diabatic Layer modifies the pressure field at the top of the Ekman layer, and with it the intensity of Ekman pumping seen by the quasi-geostrophic bulk flow. This leads to a new model for the coupled dynamics of the bulk troposphere, the diabatic layer, and the Ekman layer when strong diabatic processes substantially change the stratification in the lower part of the atmosphere.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

Asymptotic turbulent friction in 2D rough-walled flows

The friction f is the property of wall-bounded flows that sets the pumping cost of a pipeline, the draining capacity of a river, and other variables of practical relevance. For highly turbulent rough-walled pipe flows, f depends solely on the roughness length scale r, and the f − r relation may be expressed by the Strickler empirical scaling f ∝ r1/3. Here, we show experimentally that for soap film flows that are the two-dimensional (2D) equivalent of highly turbulent rough-walled pipe flows, f ∝ r and the f − r relation is not the same in 2D as in 3D. Our findings are beyond the purview of the standard theory of friction but consistent with a competing theory in which f is linked to the turbulent spectrum via the spectral exponent α: In 3D, α = 5/3 and the theory yields f ∝ r1/3; in 2D, α = 3 and the theory yields f ∝ r.

An experimental investigations of the single phase fluid flow through mini pipes with circular cross section

The experimental investigation that has been conducted on the fluid flow in mini pipes with circular cross-sections are presented in this paper. The working fluid is water and its main physical-chemical analysis (pH, total hardness, electrical conductivity) were carried out. The liquid flow through mini pipes of 1, 2 and 3 mm diameter with simulated pressure drops from 1.01 to 61 bar is investigated and the experimental results are presented. The laminar and turbulent friction factor f at different pressure drop values, the transition from the laminar to turbulent flow, the effect of relative roughness, and the boundary-layer thickness, δ, are computed and studied. The experimental results are presented, discussed and analysed, according to the theoretical principles.

A Businger Mechanism for Intermittent Bursting in the Stable Boundary Layer

High-resolution large-eddy simulations of the Antarctic very stable boundary layer reveal a mechanism for systematic and periodic intermittent bursting. A nonbursting state with a boundary layer height of just 3 m is alternated by a bursting state with a height of ≈5 m. The bursts result from unstable wave growth triggered by a shear-generated Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, as confirmed by linear stability analysis. The shear at the top of the boundary layer is built up by two processes. The upper, quasi-laminar layer accelerates due to the combined effect of the pressure force and rotation by the Coriolis force, while the lower layer decelerates by turbulent friction. During the burst, this shear is eroded and the initial cause of the instability is removed. Subsequently, the interfacial shear builds up again, causing the entire sequence to repeat itself with a time scale of ≈10 min. Despite the clear intermittent bursting, the overall change of the mean wind profile is remarkably small during the cycle. This enables such a fast erosion and recovery of the shear. This mechanism for cyclic bursting is remarkably similar to the mechanism hypothesized by Businger in 1973, with one key difference. Whereas Businger proposes that the flow acceleration in the upper layer results from downward turbulent transfer of high-momentum flow, the current results indicate no turbulent activity in the upper layer, hence requiring another source of momentum. Finally, it would be interesting to construct a climatology of shear-generated intermittency in relation to large-scale conditions to assess the generality of this Businger mechanism.