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Article
Geophysical Flows with Anisotropic Turbulence and Dispersive Waves: Flows with a Β-effect
Ocean Dynamics
  • Boris Galperin, University of South Florida
  • Semion Sukoriansky, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
  • Nadejda Dikovskaya, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Keywords
  • Geostrophic turbulence,
  • Turbulent diffusion,
  • Nonlinear waves
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-010-0278-2
Disciplines
Abstract

Geostrophic turbulence is a key paradigm in the current understanding of the large-scale planetary circulations. It implies that a flow is turbulent, rotating, stably stratified, and in near-geostrophic balance. When a small-scale forcing is present, geostrophic turbulence features an inverse energy cascade. When the meridional variation of the Coriolis parameter (or a β-effect) is included, the horizontal flow symmetry breaks down giving rise to the emergence of jet flows. The presence of a large-scale drag ensures that the flow attains a steady state. Dependent on the governing parameters, four steady-state flow regimes are possible, two of which are considered in this study. In one of these regimes, a flow is dominated by the drag while in the other one, the recently discovered regime of zonostrophic turbulence, a flow becomes strongly anisotropic and features slowly evolving systems of alternating zonal jets. Zonostrophic turbulence is distinguished by anisotropic inverse energy cascade and emergence of a new class of nonlinear waves known as zonons. In addition, meridional scalar diffusion is strongly modified in this regime. This paper provides an overview of various regimes of turbulence with a β-effect, elaborates main characteristics of friction-dominated and zonostrophic turbulence, elucidates the physical nature of the zonons, discusses the meridional diffusion processes in different regimes, and relates these results to oceanic observations.

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Ocean Dynamics, v. 60, p. 427-441

Citation Information
Boris Galperin, Semion Sukoriansky and Nadejda Dikovskaya. "Geophysical Flows with Anisotropic Turbulence and Dispersive Waves: Flows with a Β-effect" Ocean Dynamics Vol. 60 (2010) p. 427 - 441
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/boris-galperin/28/