Secondary instability and three-dimensionalization in a laboratory accelerating shear layer with varying density differences

We investigate the processes by which an accelerating stratified shear flow undergoes the transition to turbulence in a sequence of experiments in a tilted tank. We observe that the processes by which the flow undergoes breakdown are both complex and diverse, and suggest that the ratio, D, of the depth of the shear layer to the total tank depth and/or the (nondimensional) total density difference are important parameters in the determination of the dominant structures. In general, inherently three-dimensional, and relatively large-scale, flow structures strongly suppress simple subharmonic vortex pairing, and appear to dominate totally the transition to turbulence. In certain circumstances, the primary instabilities of the flow, namely Kelvin-Helmholtz billows, are able to develop in a quasi-two-dimensional manner before interaction between neighbouring billows becomes significant. In these circumstances, narrow secondary streamwise ‘tubes’ of vorticity are observed between neighbouring billows. Alternatively subharmonic, quasi-two-dimensional vortex mergings may be observed; these are not just simple pairings, but also three vortices are observed to merge into a single secondary billow, or two merge and the other persists, as predicted theoretically by Klaassen and Peltier (J. Fluid Mech., 202: 367–402, 1989). Three-dimensional vortex merging (knotting) of initially quasi-two-dimensional billows is also observed. Such knots are observed not only as pairwise transitions, as discussed by Thorpe (Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., 34: 175–199, 1985), but also single billows are observed to knot with both adjacent neighbours simultaneously. Also, billows are observed to bow during merging events. However, particularly at larger density differences, higher Reynolds number and when the depth ratio, D, is sufficiently small, billow-billow interactions are apparent essentially immediately upon instability onset. Although the structures which develop resemble secondary tubes, these structures appear to be a primary instability of the flow, analogous to an instability observed by other researchers in both forced and unforced homogeneous shear layers.     

Increased Light,Moderate,and Severe Clear-Air Turbulence in Response to Climate Change

Anthropogenic climate change is expected to strengthen the vertical wind shears at aircraft cruising altitudes within the atmospheric jet streams. Such a strengthening would increase the prevalence of the shear instabilities that generate clear-air turbulence. Climate modelling studies have indicated that the amount of moderate-or-greater clear-air turbulence on transatlantic flight routes in winter will increase significantly in future as the climate changes. However,the individual responses of light,moderate,and severe clear-air turbulence have not previously been studied,despite their importance for aircraft operations. Here,we use climate model simulations to analyse the transatlantic wintertime clear-air turbulence response to climate change in five aviation-relevant turbulence strength categories. We find that the probability distributions for an ensemble of 21 clear-air turbulence diagnostics generally gain probability in their right-hand tails when the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is doubled. By converting the diagnostics into eddy dissipation rates,we find that the ensembleaverage airspace volume containing light clear-air turbulence increases by 59%(with an intra-ensemble range of 43%–68%),light-to-moderate by 75%(39%–96%),moderate by 94%(37%–118%),moderate-to-severe by 127%(30%–170%),and severe by 149%(36%–188%). These results suggest that the prevalence of transatlantic wintertime clear-air turbulence will increase significantly in all aviation-relevant strength categories as the climate changes.     

Transformation of a vortex ring,initiated by a downburst,into a horseshoe vortex in the boundary layer

The oblique interaction of a vortex ring with a boundary in shear flow is considered by the method of three-dimensional vortex singularities (vortons). It is demonstrated how a vortex ring transforms into a horseshoe vortex. The results are in agreement with laboratory observations. The possible application of this approach to the problem of aircraft accidents, caused by downbursts in the atmospheric boundary layer, is briefly discussed.     

Scale effects in wind tunnel modeling of an urban atmospheric boundary layer

Precise urban atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) wind tunnel simulations are essential for a wide variety of atmospheric studies in built-up environments including wind loading of structures and air pollutant dispersion. One of key issues in addressing these problems is a proper choice of simulation length scale. In this study, an urban ABL was reproduced in a boundary layer wind tunnel at different scales to study possible scale effects. Two full-depth simulations and one part-depth simulation were carried out using castellated barrier wall, vortex generators, and a fetch of roughness elements. Redesigned “Counihan” vortex generators were employed in the part-depth ABL simulation. A hot-wire anemometry system was used to measure mean velocity and velocity fluctuations. Experimental results are presented as mean velocity, turbulence intensity, Reynolds stress, integral length scale of turbulence, and power spectral density of velocity fluctuations. Results suggest that variations in length-scale factor do not influence the generated ABL models when using similarity criteria applied in this study. Part-depth ABL simulation compares well with two full-depth ABL simulations indicating the truncated vortex generators developed for this study can be successfully employed in urban ABL part-depth simulations.     

用连续子波变换提取城市冠层大气湍流的相干结构

切变湍流的相干结构是湍流研究中的重大发现,它表明湍流在表面上看来不规则运动中具有可检测的有序运动,这种相干结构在切变湍流的脉动生成和发展中起着主宰作用.因此识别和提取相干结构对于认识和研究湍流是非常重要的.用数字滤波法将包含相干结构的大尺度信号提取出来以后,再用子波分析,根据子波能量极大值的判别方法,分别确定出大气湍流三个方向上的速度脉动信号相干结构的频率或时间尺度,然后由确定尺度上的连续子波反演公式,提取出大气湍流三个方向上的速度脉动信号相干结构所对应的波形.     

一种新的预报晴空湍流综合算法

介绍了晴空湍流及其相关的湍流指数,以及通过对9个指数进行加权综合得到的一个综合预报算法。利用T213模式资料,计算了9个湍流指数,并分别用12个北京地区的飞机颠簸个例进行验证,得到各湍流指数的预报结果;在此基础上,应用新的综合算法,得到一个综合预报结果。计算结果表明,虽然理查孙数和风相关指数、MOSCAT概率预报因子指数的预报效果相对较好,但是这三个指数的预报范围和强度均偏大,容易出现空报;综合算法则较好地综合各个指数,预报区域相对集中,预报强度也较符合实际情况,空报的情况也得到了相应的改善,总体预报效果较好     

东北冷涡诱发的一次连续强风暴环境条件分析

从深对流发展必须满足的对流层低层有足够强的湿层、层结不稳定和足够强的触发机制出发,对2002年7月11～15日由东北冷涡诱发的一次连续强风暴生成的环境条件进行了诊断分析。结果表明:低层暖湿条件是冷涡强对流预报的关键,强大的冷涡由于冷性层结深厚难以诱发强的对流性天气,而其分裂的次涡度中心或弱的冷性低涡配合低层暖湿气流常常产生突发性强对流性天气;强的风垂直切变引发的斜压不稳定和垂直运动是强对流触发和维持的重要条件,风暴发生前边界层到500 hPa风向随高度顺转超过90°,随着对流性天气的发展,850 hPa以上风垂直切变逐渐减小,而850 hPa以下可能受低层冷丘产生中高压的影响,切变有增大的趋势;冷涡诱发的强对流性天气常常位于高空急流出口区左侧,但在实际预报业务中需要配合散度场来进行综合判断。     

拉萨航路一次颠簸过程的成因分析和数值模拟

颠簸是成都—拉萨航路影响飞行安全与正常的重要因素。本文分析了2009年10月23日发生在拉萨航路太昭航段的两例颠簸事件,并利用WRF模式进行了数值模拟预报。结果表明,这是一次典型的晴空颠簸过程,在高空急流区边缘,冷暖平流交汇的梯度带上,上升和下沉气流的转换区域内产生了飞机颠簸。分析WRF模式计算得到的L_P颠簸指数,能够确定飞机颠簸发生的区域、高度和强度,具有一定的预报指示意义。      

Interaction between an eddy and a zonal jet : Part II. Two-and-a-half-layer model

In a two-and-a-half-layer quasi-geostrophic model, a process study is conducted on the interaction between a vortex and a zonal jet, both with constant potential vorticity. The vortex is a stable anticyclone, initially located north of the eastward jet. The potential vorticity of the jet is allowed to have various vertical structures, while the vortex is concentrated in only one layer. The flow parameters are set to values characteristic of the Azores region.First, the jet is stable. Weak vortices steadily drift north of the jet without crossing it while strong vortices can cross the jet and tear off a cyclone with which they pair as a heton (baroclinic dipole). This heton often breaks later in the shear exerted by the jet; the two vortices finally drift apart. When crossed by deep anticyclones, the jet develops meanders with 375 km wavelength. These results exhibit a noticeable similarity with the one-and-a-half-layer case studied in Part I.Secondly, the jet is allowed to be linearly unstable. In the absence of the vortex, it develops meanders with 175 km wavelength and 25-day e-folding time on the β-plane. For various vertical structures of the jet, baroclinic instability is shown to barely affect jet–vortex interaction if the linear growth rate of unstable waves is smaller than 1/(14 days). Further simulations with a linearly unstable, nonlinearly equilibrated jet evidence its strong temporal variability when crossed by a deep vortex on the β-plane. In particular, long waves can dominate the spectrum for a few months after jet crossing by the vortex. Again in this process, the deep vortex couples with a surface cyclone and both drift southwestward.     

2009年2月辽宁一次暴雪过程动力条件诊断

应用常规观测资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,对2009年2月12—13日辽宁暴雪过程的主要影响系统（850 hPa切变线）进行动力诊断并研究其演变特征。结果表明：辽宁中西部切变线东南侧、江淮气旋顶部暖锋附近对应强降雪中心;切变线与正涡度区相对应,正涡度带合并、发展并向偏东方向移动,影响切变线的加深发展和东移;850 hPa正涡度中心先于强降雪出现,具有一定预报意义;正涡度带及其中心的生成与发展的动力机制主要受总涡源的影响,涡度变率较涡度更能提前并准确地反映暴雪切变线生成、发展的物理过程;涡度垂直输送和绝对涡度的散度效应对于正变涡的贡献显著,而绝对涡度的散度效应是正涡度变率的主要强迫源;正变涡的减弱主要来自扭转项,抑制了系统的发展。     

Dynamic and Numerical Study of Waves in the Tibetan Plateau Vortex简

In terms of its dynamics, The Tibetan Plateau Vortex （TPV） is assumed to be a vortex in the botmdary layer forced by diabatic heating and friction. In order to analyze the basic characteristics of waves in the vortex, the governing equations for the vortex were established in column coordinates with the balance of gradient wind. Based on this, the type of mixed waves and their dispersion characteristics were deduced by solving the linear model. Two numerical simulations with triple-nested domains--one idealized large-eddy simulation and one of a TPV that took place on 14 August 2006---were also carried out. The aim of the simulations was to validate the mixed wave deduced from the governing equations. The high-resolution model output data were analyzed and the results showed that the tangential flow field of the TPV in the form of center heating was cyclonic and convergent in the lower levels and anticyclonic and divergent in the upper levels. The simulations also showed that the vorticity of the vortex is uneven and might have shear flow along the radial direction. The changing vorticity causes the formation and spreading of vortex Rossby （VR） waves, and divergence will cause changes to the n~otion of the excitation and evolution of inertial gravity （IG） waves. Therefore, the vortex may contain what we call mixed ：inertial gravity-vortex Rossby （IG-VR） waves. It is suggested that some strongly developed TPVs should be studied in the future, because of their effects on weather in downstream areas.     

Tilting separation flows: a mechanism for intense vertical mixing in the coastal ocean

Observations of a front associated with boundary layer separation from a headland illustrate a mechanism by which horizontal density gradients create intense turbulence and vertical mixing, thus, contributing to water property modification in the coastal zone. Tidal current past an island separates from the coast, creating a shear zone between the primary flow and the slowly moving water in the lee of the island. The density structure on either side of the front may differ due to different origins or degrees of prior mixing. Consequently, there can be horizontal density gradients across the front. Boundary layer separation from the headland begins as a vertical vortex sheet on which instabilities grow to form a sequence of eddies. The presence of horizontal density gradients causes the shear layer to tilt. Tilting and stretching of the sheared flow generates intense circulation. Whirlpools and boils appear at the surface accompanied by vertical motions in which broad areas of upwelling alternate with narrow areas of downwelling. These mix the water throughout its depth; bubbles entrained at the surface reach depths of over 120 m. Such violent mixing weakens stratification associated with the estuarine circulation and aerates water masses passing through the area.     

Numerical simulation of nocturnal drainage flow properties in a rugged canyon

A two-dimensional, time-dependent flow model coupled with a radiative transfer module has been applied to examine the characteristics of nocturnal flow in a steep canyon in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The effect of nighttime surface cooling on drainage flow is examined and compared with observations. In a complementary study, tracer data have been analyzed to estimate the mass flux from a tributary canyon and to examine processes of transport and diffusion. Simulations indicate that the strength and structure of the drainage wind are controlled mainly by terrain features, ambient wind conditions, and effective radiative cooling rates. The transport of tracer from a lower secondary vortex to an upper primary vortex is largely controlled by diffusional processes; removal of tracer from the canyon is controlled by the primary vortex and its interaction with the ambient wind. Differences between mass fluxes from model simulations and those calculated from experiments involve uncertainties in both the structure of the model and the analysis of data.     

Laboratory observations of shear-layer instability in a stratified fluid

Instability and transition to turbulence is studied in a shear layer between two streams of different salinities and velocities. The viscous layer between the two streams is 15–18 times thicker than the diffusion layer. When the initial layer Richardson number is low, the instability organizes the shear-layer vorticity into discrete lumps as in the homogeneous case. Here the similarity ends. The homogeneous shear layer continues to grow by the combination of neighboring vertical lumps (vortex pairing). In the stratified shear layer, the pairing process is stopped completely, and the vorticity is redistributed along the interface. This redistribution generates interfacial waves. The interfacial waves and the residual turbulence eventually decay, and the shear flow approaches a laminar state.     

Flow Adjustments Across Sea-Surface Temperature Changes

The adjustment of airflow across sea-surface temperature changes is examinedusing aircraft eddy-correlation data. Major features of the observed flow adjustmentare not included in the theory of internal boundary layers. However, the data samplesize and coverage are not sufficient to accurately quantify the additional influences.With flow from warm water over cooler water, substantial turbulence intermittentlydevelops above the newly formed surface inversion layer. The corresponding,spatially-averaged, downward momentum flux is stronger than that close to the surface.With stably stratified flow over modest increases of sea-surface temperature, areduction of stratification can trigger episodic shear generation of turbulence. Inthese cases, the primary role of increasing surface temperature in the downwinddirection is to induce shear generation of turbulence. With larger increases ofsurface temperature, upward heat flux generates turbulence, warms the air and generates a significant horizontal gradient of hydrostatic pressure. This contributionto the pressure field appears to strongly modify the flow. Major inadequacies inexisting data and future needs are noted.     

The sensitivity of large-eddy simulation of turbulent shear flow to subgrid models

Previous large-eddy simulations of turbulent shear flows have shown significant sensitivity to some aspects of the subgrid-scale turbulence models. In particular, Mason and Thomson (1992) demonstrated a marked improvement in simulations through the inclusion of stochastic stress variations in the subgrid model. Here a series of simulations is presented with a view to exploring the general sensitivity to such a subgrid model and in particular to the size and nature of the stochastic stress variations. The model proposed by Mason and Thomson is found to be fairly satisfactory but some quantitative uncertainty remains.     

东北冷涡影响下呼伦贝尔市一次强降雨天气过程成因浅析

文章通过对2011年6月2日16—22时呼伦贝尔市岭东地区一次强降雨天气过程的分析,揭示了该过程发生发展的成因。研究表明,东北冷涡是造成本次强降雨天气的主要影响系统,大兴安岭对来自东部、东南部暖湿气流的阻挡,在岭东地区产生大雨或暴雨天气。低空急流以及风场上切变的存在对南部水汽向我市源源不断地输送起重要作用。高低层温度平流的差异以及湿度平流的差异使得大气层结变得不稳定,有利于强对流天气的发生、发展。同时大致指出了短时强降雨天气预报的普遍思路,对今后的预报预测工作具有一定的指导意义。     

Vortex structures around a hemispheric hump

The vortex structure formed in front of and behind a hemispheric surface hump has been studied in a water recirculating flume. In the recirculation zone behind the hemisphere, arched vortex tubes were formed. Up to a certain critical Reynolds number, each tube was shed individually from the recirculation zone. However, when the Reynolds number exceeded a critical value, several of the tubes coalesced in the recirculation zone before shedding. In front of the hemisphere, some parabolic vortex tubes formed. Their number increased with Reynolds number below its critical value and decreased above this value. The dimensionless height of the parabolic vortex tube decreased with Reynolds number.     

梅雨锋上边界层中尺度扰动涡旋的个例研究

运用实况自动站、高时空分辨率的雷达和数值模拟资料,对2009年7月24日的梅雨锋暴雨过程进行了分析,结果表明:(1)锋面南侧的暖区弱降水环境内,近地面的风场会有扰动涡旋出现,随着扰动涡旋趋于稳定和向上发展,降水迅速加强,形成短时暴雨,并伴随有大风出现。(2)偏西气流从边界层开始发展并加强为急 流,在向东推进的过程中逐渐抬升,形成了一支从边界层倾斜入对流层低层的急流轴;而偏南气流与偏北风相遇之后,不仅形成风向的辐合和切变,而且在空间上被抬升,形成了一支斜升入流。(3)在近地面风场的切变和 辐合作用下,锋生与辐合同步加强,边界层内的涡度也逐渐增强,由此带动了扰动的发生发展,扰动涡旋在边界层内率先形成,随后,在急流的东传和抬升影响下,扰动涡旋也逐步向东移动、向上发展。(4)近地面风速的加强、风向的辐合切变导致了扰动涡旋的发生和形成,并逐渐发展,这是边界层中尺度扰动涡旋发生发展的动力 因子。     

一次华南持续性暴雨的动力诊断分析和数值模拟

利用倾斜涡度发展（slantwise vorticity development,SVD）理论,对2008年6月中旬华南地区持续性暴雨进行了动力学机制的诊断分析,讨论了低空急流（10wleveljet,Lu）在低涡发展过程中起的作用,同时利用MM5数值模式对暴雨过程进行了验证并对模拟结果进行了进一步分析。结果表明,高原低涡的发展是前期广西地区降水的主要动力因素,由于湿等熵面相对地形倾斜,且气块沿等熵面有相对运动,同时满足热力学参数CM〈0的条件,使得SVD发生作用,导致低涡移出高原后得到进一步发展;而LLJ的增强改变了大气斜压性,是后期低涡继续东移发展,并造成广东地区持续性暴雨的重要原因。数值模拟控制试验结果很好地反映了这次低涡降水的发展过程。敏感性试验结果初步表明,LLJ改变了低层大气稳定度和风的垂直切变,即大气斜压性增强,从而促进了中尺度低涡的进一步发展。