The effect of cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry at small Rossby numbers

Cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry in a rotating fluid results in vortices with cyclonic rotation being attenuated more rapidly than vortices with anticyclonic rotation due to the Ekman bottom friction. To explain this effect, some authors invoked rather complex integral (averaged along the vertical) models with the parametrization of nonlinear friction. A simple analytical model, free of the procedure of formal averaging and based on a separate consideration of the equations for external flow in the nonviscous region and internal flow in the boundary layer, is investigated in this work. The corresponding equations are written in the so-called geostrophic momentum approximation, which makes it possible to take into account the nonlinear advective mass transport in the boundary layer at small Rossby numbers. The nonlinear equation of the hyperbolic type for the tangential velocity, which describes the process of attenuation of an axisymmetric vortex, is obtained from the condition of total mass conservation. Based on the solutions to this equation, it was shown that distinctions in the character of vortex attenuation are caused by deviations from the geostrophic regime in the nonviscous region. It was established that the concentration (compression) of anticyclonic vortices and the extension of cyclonic ones take place in the process of attenuation.     

SAR-imaged spiral eddies in Mutsu Bay and their dynamic and kinematic models

A pattern of slick streaks winding into a spiral, known as a spiral eddy, was identified in 5 images taken by the ERS-1/2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in Mutsu Bay (Japan); dynamic and kinematic models of these spiral eddies have been proposed. Common characteristics of the five spiral eddies are: 1) an eddy diameter of about 15 km; 2) their location in the western part of the bay; and 3) their cyclonic direction of rotation. Moreover, the wind conditions over the bay were common: prior to acquiring the images, a strong easterly wind continued blowing for more than one day. The wind field on the bay is known to be orographically steered and has strong windstress vorticity, which generates cyclonic circulation. The diameter and location of the circulation simulated with a numerical ocean model corresponded well to those of the identified spiral eddies. Based on these facts, we propose a dynamic model for the movement of a slick streak, and a kinematic model for the formation of a spiral eddy. We have assumed calm air, a microlayer and seawater with a cyclonic circulation in the dynamic model. The balance of forces is established in the microlayer among the frictional force from the seawater, the frictional force from the calm air, the gravitational force, and the Coriolis force. As a result, the velocity vector of the microlayer deflects slightly towards the center of the cyclonic circulation. We have assumed a point source of the microlayer in the kinematic model. The shapes of a slick streak simulated with the models agree well with the identified patterns in the SAR images.     

非绝热加热对热带气旋径向非均匀结构的影响

利用平面极坐标系下无摩擦有外源(非绝热加热)的正压无辐散方程,将热带气旋的物理量分解成环境场和扰动,进而求出了热带气旋扰动的行波解,并分析了风场(切向、径向)和重力位势扰动场的径向非均匀松紧结构.表明:这种松紧结构与热带气旋所在纬度的科氏参数(f)、热带气旋的强度(Ω)、热带气旋扰动的圆频率(ω)、热带气旋扰动在θ方向的角波数(m)有关,且不同要素的松紧结构不尽相同;同时还受非绝热加热(Q₁)的影响,这种影响主要表现在使风场(切向、径向)呈内紧外松的非均匀分布.     

On the nature of oceanic eddies shed by the Island of Gran Canaria

We use hydrographic and buoy data to compare the initial temperature fields and Lagrangian evolution of water parcels in two vortices generated by the southward flowing Canary Current passing around the island of Gran Canaria Island. One vortex is anticyclonic, shed in June 1998 as the result of an incident current of about 0.05 m s⁻¹, and the second one is cyclonic, shed in June 2005 with the impinging current estimated as 0.03 m s⁻¹. The two vortices exhibit contrasting characteristics yet display some important similarities. The isopycnals are depressed in the core of the anticyclonic vortex, at least down to a depth of 700 m, whilst they dome up in the core of the cyclonic vortex but only down to 450 m. In the top 300 m the depression/doming of the isotherms is similar for both vortices, with a maximum vertical displacement of the isotherm of about 80 m, which correspond to temperature anomalies of some 2.5 °C at a given depth. A simple method is developed to obtain the initial orbital velocity field from the temperature data, from which we estimate peak values of 0.7 and 0.5 m s⁻¹ for the anticyclonic and cyclonic vortices, respectively. The buoys, three for the anticyclonic vortex and two for the cyclonic one, were drougued at 100 m depth, below the surface mixed layer, and their initial velocities are consistent with the above values. In both vortices, the buoys revolve either within a central core, where the rotation rate remains stable and large for several weeks, or in an outer ring, where the rotation rate is significantly smaller and displays large radial fluctuations. Within the inner core the anticyclonic vortex has significant inward radial velocity, while the cyclonic vortex has near-zero radial mean motions. The cyclonic vortex rotates more slowly than the anticyclonic, their initial periods being 4.5 and 2.5 days, respectively. A simple axisymmetric model with radial diffusion (coefficient K_h≅25 m² s⁻¹) and advection reproduces the observations reasonably well, the diffusive effect being more important than that resulting from the observed radial advection. The model also supports the hypothesis that the rotation rate of cyclonic vortices is less than that of anticyclonic vortices, as otherwise they would become inertially unstable. Both the buoys data and sea surface temperature images confirm that the vortices evolve from youth to maturity, as the cores shrink and the outer rings expands, and then to a decay stage, as the core rotation rates decrease, though frequent interactions with other mesoscale structures result in more accelerated aging. Despite these interaction they last many months as coherent structures south of the Canary Islands.     

Dynamic parameters in models of atmospheric vortex structures

Vortex simulation and the computation of fields of dynamic parameters of vortex structures (velocity, rotor velocity, and helicity) are carried out with the use of exact hydrodynamic equations in a cylindrical coordinate system. Components of centripetal and Coriolis accelerations are taken into account in the initial equations. Internal and external solutions are defined. Internal solutions ignore the disturbances of the pressure field, but they are considered in external solutions. The simulation is carried out so that the effect of accounting for spatial coordinates on the structure of the above fields is pronounced. It is shown that the initial kinetic energy of rotating motion transforms into the kinetic energy of radial and vertical velocity components in models with centripetal acceleration. In models with Coriolis acceleration, the Rossby effect is clearly pronounced. The method of an “inverse problem” is used for finding external solutions, i.e., reconstruction of the pressure field at specified velocity components. Computations have shown that tangential components mainly contribute to the velocity and helicity vortex moduli at the initial stage.     

A numerical study on the tidal residual flow

Characteristics of the tidal residual flow, the steady current induced in the tidal current system, are studied by a numerical method. The model basin has the same topography as that studied byYanagi (1976) and byOonishi (1977) where only the horizontal motion of the residual flow is concerned. In this study, the effect of the vertical motion is investigated as it is associated with the tidal residual flow. To this end, the bottom friction omitted in the previous study (Oonishi, 1977) is included and a two-leveled model is adopted.The first two experiments exclude the earth's rotation and the buoyancy effect on the flow. The results are as follows. The horizontal flow pattern is essentially the same as that obtained in the previous Oonishi study. The bottom friction results in the reduction of the velocity of the residual flow especially in the bottom level. An important result is that vertical velocity is as strong as the horizontal velocity multiplied by the scale ratio and that it remains even in the time-average. Upwelling appears at the center of the residual circulation. This upwelling explains Yanagi's observation in the hydraulic model that the sediment is swept by the flow and accumulates horizontally in the area at the bottom below the center of the residual circulation. The distribution of a tracer, which is simultaneously calculated in these cases, indicates the important role of vertical motion in the material dispersion in the model.The last experiment includes the earth's rotation and the buoyancy effect presuming a more actual sea. It shows another effect of the vertical motion. The Coriolis term, which operates only under the condition that a horizontal divergence of the flow is present, skews the horizontal residual flow pattern.     

Emergence of sub(super)-rotation and jet streams from small-scale quasi-two-dimensional vortices in laboratory experiments

This paper presents the results of experiments in a circular stationary and rotating channels with thin layers of conductive fluid for configurations consisting of a large number of permanent magnets and providing the MHD generation of small-scale velocity fields. The alternating radial configurations of magnets were chosen in such a way as to ensure the conservation of a discrete symmetry of their mutual arrangement relative to rotations of the circular channel around a central axis and were formed on the basis of numerical calculations with the shallow-water equations. Both in numerical and laboratory experiments, large-scale nearly circular vortices were obtained as a result of the energy transfer from the system of externally generated small-scale vortices to large-scale velocity fields (inverse cascade) under the influence of the Coriolis force in the rotating case. Single large-scale vortices and wide jet streams appear in subrotation and superrotation modes relative to external rotation, depending on its angular velocity. Rotation in a nearly circular vortex has a differential character with a decrease in the angular velocity of rotation with the radius in most area of the channel.     

A climatic model of runoff-driven coastal circulation

A simplified two-layer model is developed to examine long-term effects of freshwater runoff on coastal circulation, with particular emphasis on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The model handles punctual as well as distributed sources in a parabolic formulation free of any wave propagation, where entrainment, Coriolis force and interfacial friction determine the solution of the properties of the upper layer. Solutions are discussed for a steady coastal flow fed by a uniform runoff distribution and for outflow from a point source.     

The mesoscale atmospheric vortex as a manifestation of the Novorossiysk bora

The WRF-ARW regional atmosphere circulation model has been used to reproduce a few episodes of cold intrusion and the Novorossiysk bora accompanied by the formation of the mesoscale cyclonic vortex over the Black sea, which can be clearly observed from satellite images of cloudiness. It has been shown that the vortex development is associated with the specific features of air flow around the northwestern edge of the Caucasus Mountains. We have estimated the vertical vorticity associated with the alongshore horizontal gradient of temperature. We have considered the field structure of wind velocity and temperature of the axisymmetric quasi-two-dimensional vortex generated in the coastal zone and displaced seaward after separating from the coast. With the background northerly wind, the coastal cyclonic circulation is not accompanied by the vortex separation from the coast. The specific feature of the development of the cyclonic vortex is the southeastern wind with velocities of up to 10 m/s in the Caucasus coastal area from Sochi to Sukhum.     

Observations of the initial 3D flow from a ship's propeller

The present paper was aimed at presenting the time-averaged velocity and turbulence intensity at the initial plane from a ship's propeller. The flow characteristics of a ship's propeller jet are of particular interest for the researchers investigating the jet induced seabed damage as documented in the previous studies. Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) measurements show that the axial component of velocity is the main contributor to the velocity magnitude at the initial plane of a ship's propeller jet. The tangential component contributes to the rotation while the radial component which contributes to the diffusion, are the second and third largest contributors to the velocity magnitude. The maximum tangential and radial velocity components at the initial plane are approximately 82% and 14% of the maximum axial velocity component, respectively. The axial velocity distribution at the initial plane shows two peaked ridges with a low velocity core at the rotation axis. The turbulence intensity distribution shows a three-peaked profile at the initial plane.     

Tide simulation using the mild-slope equation with Coriolis force and bottom friction

Since the mild-slope equation was derived by Berkhoff (1972),the researchers considered various mechanism to simplify and improve the equation,which has been widely used for coastal wave field calculation.Recently,some scholars applied the mild-slope equation in simulating the tidal motion,which proves that the equation is capable to calculate the tide in actual terrain.But in their studies,they made a lot of simplifications,and did not consider the effects of Coriolis force and bottom friction on tidal wave.In this paper,the first-order linear mild-slope equations are deduced from Kirby mild-slope equation including wave and current interaction.Then,referring to the method of wave equations’ modification,the Coriolis force and bottom friction term are considered,and the effects of which have been performed with the radial sand ridges topography.Finally,the results show that the modified mild-slope equation can be used to simulate tidal motion,and the calculations agree well with the measurements,thus the applicability and validity of the mild-slope equation on tidal simulation are further proved.     

Potential enstrophical diagnostic analyses on the mechanism of change of tropical cyclone intensity

Ｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌｅｎｓｔｒｏｐｈｉｃａｌｄｉａｇｎｏｓｔｉｃａｎａｌｙｓｅｓｏｎｔｈｅｍｅｃｈａｎｉｓｍｏｆｃｈａｎｇｅｏｆｔｒｏｐｉｃａｌｃｙｃｌｏｎｅｉｎｔｅｎｓｉｔｙ￥ＬａｉｎｇＢｉｑｉａｎｄＨｅＣａｉｆｕ（Ｔｈｉｓｐｒｏｊｅｃｔｉｓｓｕｐｐ...     

海洋对热带气旋响应的研究 Ⅰ.海洋对静止、移速不同的热带气旋响应

建立一个二层非线性原始方程海洋模式，用以研究海洋对静止和以不同移速移动的热带气旋（TC）的响应。数值试验结果表明，海洋对静止TC的响应，具有不对称性；在TC中心处，抽吸使混合层（ML）变浅，在TC最大风速半径处，大风夹卷明显使ML加深和海表温（SST）下降；海洋对移动TC的响应，具有右偏性，且随移速加快而加剧。ML深度和SST的变化对TC移速十分敏感，而海流则不同。     

Inertial Instability of Arbitrarily Meandering Currents Governed by the Eccentrically Cyclogeostrophic Equation

Using natural coordinates, we have derived a criterion for the inertial instability of arbitrarily meandering currents. Such currents, governed by the eccentrically cyclogeostrophic equation, are adopted as the basic current field for the parcel method. We assume that any virtual displacement which is given to a water parcel moving in the basic field has no influence on this field. From the conservation of mechanical energy for a virtual displacement we derive an inertial instability frequency ω _m = [(f + 2u/r)Z]^0.5 for the eccentrically cyclogeostrophic current, where f is the Coriolis parameter, u the velocity (always positive), r the radius of curvature of a streamline (negative for an anticyclonic meander), and Z the vertical component of absolute vorticity. If ω _m ² is negative, the eccentrically cyclogeostrophic current becomes unstable. Although the conventional, centrifugal instability criterion, derived from the conservation of angular momentum in a circularly symmetric current field, has a certain meaning for a monopolar vortex, it contains a radial shear vorticity that is difficult to use in arbitrarily meandering currents. The new criterion ω _m ² contains a lateral shear vorticity that is applicable to arbitrarily meandering currents. Examining instabilities of concentric rings with radii of 50–100 km, we consider reasons why the anticyclonic supersolid rotation has been very much less frequently observed than the cyclonic supersolid rotation, despite a prediction of some common stability and a rapid change in radial velocity gradient for the former. Classifying eccentric streamlines into the large and small curvature-gradient types, we point out that the large-gradient curvature in anticyclonic rings is apt to be unstable. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A finite element model of circulation in shallow water with moving boundary on tidal-flat

To examine the circulation in shallow water with tidal flat, a finite element model for the numerical solution of the shallow water equations was developed by means of standard Galerkin's method. The domain computed was covered with triangular finite elements, and water elevation and velocity were approximated by linear interpolation functions, and the lumped coefficients were used to substitute for solving the high order algebraic equation system. The time-dependent land-water boundary changes are treated mathematically by interrelating the location of the land-water boundary with the instantaneous tidal level. The implicit scheme was adopted for the terms of the bottom friction and the Coriolis effect in the motion equation so that the numerical stability of the model has been improved.The model was applied to the tidal current on shoaling water with large tidal flat off Pikou, and a comparison between observed and calculated values showed good agreement, the flow pattern being reproduced. The result     

Marine geodesy— a direction for the future

The sensitivity of the ocean mixed layer response to different parameters such as model horizontal resolution, vertical temperature gradient and eye size is investigated in response to moving Indian Ocean cyclone. For this, a one and one-half layer wind-driven reduced-gravity ocean model is forced with synthetic cyclonic vortex. The sensitivity studies are carried out for a cyclone moving along idealized tracks, initially and then for three observed cyclones (TC 01A), (TC02B) and (TC04A) during 2004. Increasing model resolution resulted in stronger ocean response. The role of initial vertical temperature gradient in modulating the ocean response is found to be important.     

太湖夏季环流成因的数值研究

强潮河口盐水入侵对饮用水源地危害极大。基于平面二维水动力盐度模型, 对典型强潮河口—钱塘江的水动力及盐水入侵过程进行了数值模拟研究。结果表明枯水径流时盐度变化与潮位过程曲线类似, 潮差对盐度大小影响显著, 径流量的增加将逐渐减小其相似程度。当流量增加到一定程度后, 继续增加的一定径流量所产生的抑咸效果减弱, 水资源有效利用率降低, 此时允许水源地盐度超标并改从蓄淡避咸水库取水可有效节约水资源。盐度平面分布显示, 盐水入侵在强潮河口弯道处受涨潮流主流线影响明显, 靠近主流线一岸的盐度大于对岸, 单从盐水入侵角度考虑, 强潮河口弯道段的取水口应设置在远离涨潮流主流线一岸。钱塘江河口盐度数值模拟对于研究减轻盐水入侵对水源地危害的措施具有指导意义。     

南海等密度面环流季节变化的数值模拟研究

In this study, we develop a variable-grid global ocean general circulation model(OGCM) with a fine grid(1/6)°covering the area from 20°S–50°N and from 99°–150°E, and use the model to investigate the isopycnal surface circulation in the South China Sea(SCS). The simulated results show four layer structures in vertical: the surface and subsurface circulation of the SCS are characterized by the monsoon driven circulation, with basin-scaled cyclonic gyre in winter and anti-cyclonic gyre in summer. The intermediate layer circulation is opposite to the upper layer, showing anti-cyclonic gyre in winter but cyclonic gyre in summer. The circulation in the deep layer is much weaker in spring and summer, with the maximum velocity speed below 0.6 cm/s. In fall and winter, the SCS deep layer circulation shows strong east boundary current along the west coast of Philippine with the velocity speed at 1.5 m/s, which flows southward in fall and northward in winter. The results have also revealed a fourlayer vertical structure of water exchange through the Luzon Strait. The dynamics of the intermediate and deep circulation are attributed to the monsoon driving and the Luzon Strait transport forcing.     

Size distribution of dust devils in the atmosphere

On the basis of the principle of maximum informational entropy, the equilibrium exponential size (visible diameter) distribution of dust devils in the atmosphere has been introduced. Two independent sets of statistical data on dust devils observed respectively in Arizona and south California are in good agreement with the reference exponential distribution, although the average diameters of the vortices in these two data sets differed by a factor of 5 from each other. The estimates obtained in the paper have indicated that the average diameter of a dust-devil vortex and the doubled value of the Monin-Oboukhov scale are close to each other, a result which was previously observed during dust devils in Australia. A physical explanation is proposed for the closeness of statistics observed for dust devils to the equilibrium exponential distribution. This explanation is based on the property of additivity for the Kelvin circulation of wind velocity in vortices and on a weak dependence of the maximum tangential wind velocity on the size of a vortex. On a heuristic level, it is considered whether the equilibrium exponential distribution is applicable to dust devils observed in the Martian atmosphere.     

“纳沙”台风引起北部湾沿岸风暴射流及其机制

基于FVCOM模式建立一个三维数值模型,对2011年“纳沙”台风登陆北部湾前后水位与流场变化进行了分析,并探究了风暴射流的生成机制。结果表明,广西近岸风暴射流的产生是对台风到来造成的水位起伏变化的一种正压响应;台风进入到北部湾期间,造成北部湾近岸水位先降低后升高,所导致的水位梯度差产生了驱动力,促使海水向西运动增强,从而导致在广西近海风暴射流的产生;台风登陆期间琼州海峡西向流流量增大到0.4 Sv以上,最大可达0.7 Sv;台风进入到北部湾后,促使琼州海峡西向流更多进入到北部湾,造成湾内正位涡输入增大,产生了气旋式环流来维持位涡平衡,同时气旋式环流也有利于向西运动的风暴射流增强;流经广西沿岸的风暴射流引起向西的水体输运可达0.2 Sv,对北部湾内营养盐以及污染物运移将产生重要影响。