The universal aspect ratio of vortices in rotating stratified flows: theory and simulation

DOI10.1017/JFM.2012.180zbMATH Open1275.76216arXiv1203.1561OpenAlexW2124647240WikidataQ59939927 ScholiaQ59939927MaRDI QIDQ2863221FDOQ2863221

Authors: Pedram Hassanzadeh, Patrice Le Gal, Philip S. Marcus 

Publication date: 21 November 2013

Published in: Journal of Fluid Mechanics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We derive a relationship for the vortex aspect ratio $alpha$ (vertical half-thickness over horizontal length scale) for steady and slowly evolving vortices in rotating stratified fluids, as a function of the Brunt-Vaisala frequencies within the vortex $N_c$ and in the background fluid outside the vortex $$, the Coriolis parameter $f$, and the Rossby number $Ro$ of the vortex: $$. This relation is valid for cyclones and anticyclones in either the cyclostrophic or geostrophic regimes; it works with vortices in Boussinesq fluids or ideal gases, and the background density gradient need not be uniform. Our relation for $alpha$ has many consequences for equilibrium vortices in rotating stratified flows. For example, cyclones must have $$; weak anticyclones (with $|Ro|<1$) must have $$N_c^2 > �ar{N}^2$.Weverifyourrelationfor$alpha$withnumericalsimulationsofthethree-dimensionalBoussinesqequationsforawidevarietyofvortices,including:vorticesthatareinitiallyin(dissipationless)equilibriumandthenevolveduetoanimposedweakviscousdissipationordensityradiation;anticyclonescreatedbythegeostrophicadjustmentofapatchoflocallymixeddensity;cyclonescreatedbyfluidsuctionfromasmalllocalisedregion;vorticescreatedfromtheremnantsoftheviolentbreakupsofcolumnarvortices;andweaklynon-axisymmetricvortices.Thevaluesoftheaspectratiosofournumerically-computedvorticesvalidateourrelationshipfor$alpha$,andgenerallytheydiffersignificantlyfromthevaluesobtainedfromthemuch-citedconjecturethat$alpha = f/�ar{N}$ in quasi-geostrophic vortices.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1203.1561

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zbMATH Keywords

vortex flowsrotating flowsstratified flows

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General theory of rotating fluids (76U05)

Cites Work

• The shape of vortices in quasi-geostrophic turbulence
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• A 3D spectral anelastic hydrodynamic code for shearing, stratified flows
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• On the steady motions produced by a stable stratification in a rapidly rotating fluid
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• The universal aspect ratio of vortices in rotating stratified flows: experiments and observations

Cited In (11)

• Coalescence of lenticular anticyclones in a linearly stratified rotating fluid
• Stable \textit{a posteriori} LES of 2D turbulence using convolutional neural networks: backscattering analysis and generalization to higher \(Re\) via transfer learning
• A note on the asymmetry of rotating, stratified flow past a shallow ridge
• Balanced ellipsoidal vortex equilibria in a background shear flow at finite Rossby number
• A laboratory study of floating lenticular anticyclones
• Characteristic length scales of strongly rotating Boussinesq flow in variable-aspect-ratio domains
• Effect of aspect ratio on the meridional circulation of a rotating homogeneous fluid
• Vortex evolution due to straining: a mechanism for dominance of strong, interior anticyclones
• Stability of an isolated pancake vortex in continuously stratified-rotating fluids
• The universal aspect ratio of vortices in rotating stratified flows: experiments and observations
• Stability of three-dimensional Gaussian vortices in an unbounded, rotating, vertically stratified, Boussinesq flow: linear analysis

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