Models of interacting pairs of thin,quasi-geostrophic vortices: steady-state solutions and nonlinear stability

We study pairwise interactions of elliptical quasi-geostrophic (QG) vortices as the limiting case of vanishingly thin uniform potential vorticity ellipsoids. In this limit, the product of the vertical extent of the ellipsoid and the potential vorticity within it is held fixed to a finite non-zero constant. Such elliptical “lenses” inherit the property that, in isolation, they steadily rotate without changing shape. Here, we use this property to extend both standard moment models and Hamiltonian ellipsoidal models to approximate the dynamical interaction of such elliptical lenses. By neglecting non-elliptical deformations, the simplified models reduce the dynamics to just four degrees of freedom per vortex. For simplicity, we focus on pairwise interactions between identical elliptical vortices initially separated in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The dynamics of the simplified models are compared with the full QG dynamics of the system, and show good agreement as expected for sufficiently distant lenses. The results reveal the existence of families of steadily rotating equilibria in the initial horizontal and vertical separation parameter space. For sufficiently large vertical separations, equilibria with varying shape exist for all horizontal separations. Below a critical vertical separation (stretched by the constant ratio of buoyancy to Coriolis frequencies N / f), comparable to the mean radius of either vortex, a gap opens in horizontal separation where no equilibria are possible. Solutions near the edge of this gap are unstable. In the full QG system, equilibria at the edge of the gap exhibit corners (infinite curvature) along their boundaries. Comparisons of the model results with the full nonlinear QG evolution show that the early stages of the instability are captured by the Hamiltonian elliptical model but not by the moment model that inaccurately estimates shorter-range interactions.     

Piecewise uniform potential vorticity pancake shielded vortices

Shielded vortices consist of a core of potential vorticity (PV) of a given sign surrounded (or shielded) by a layer of opposite-signed PV. Such vortices have specific properties and have been the focus of numerous studies, first in two dimensional geometries (where PV is just the vertical component of the vorticity vector) and in geophysical applications (mostly in layered models). The present paper focuses on three-dimensional, spheroidal shielded vortices. In particular, we focus on vortical structures whose overall volume-integrated PV is zero. We restrict attention to vortices of piecewise uniform PV in the present research. We first revisit the problem within the quasi-geostrophic model, then we extend the results to the non-hydrostatic regime. We show that the stability of the structure depends on the ratio of PV between the inner core and the outer shield. In particular it depends on the polarity of the core and of the wavenumber of the azimuthal mode perturbed.     

On the merger of subsurface isolated vortices

Vortex merger is a phenomenon characterizing the whole class of geophysical vortices, from atmospheric storms and large oceanic eddies up to small scale turbulence. Here we focus on the merger of subsurface oceanic anticyclones in an idealized primitive equations model. This study has been motivated by past and recent observations of colliding lens-like anticyclones off of Gibraltar Strait. The critical conditions for merger (critical merger distance and time needed for merger) are determined. We will show that the predictions of classical two-dimensional merger are not verified for subsurface isolated vortices. For instance, critical merger distances will be reduced because of the vortex potential vorticity (PV) structure. The post-merger characteristics of the vortex (radius, extension and PV), are also determined. Merger-related effects, like production of peripheral filaments and small-scale eddies are also investigated and suggest the contribution of merger in both direct and inverse energy cascades.     

Statistical equilibrium distributions of baroclinic vortices in a rotating two-layer model at low Froude numbers

The point-vortex equilibrium statistical model of two-layer baroclinic quasigeostrophic vortices in an unbounded f-plane is examined. A key conserved quantity, angular momentum, serves to confine the vortices to a compact domain, thereby justifying the statistical mechanics model, and also eliminating the need for boundary conditions in a practical method for its resolution. The Metropolis method provides a fast and efficient algorithm for solving the mean field non-linear elliptic PDEs of the equilibrium statistical theory. A verification of the method is done by comparison with the exact Gaussian solution at the no interaction limit of zero inverse temperature. The numerical results include a geophysically and computationally relevant power law for the radii at which the most probable vortex distribution is non-vanishing: For fixed total circulation, and fixed average angular momentum, the radii of both layers are proportional to the square root of the inverse temperature β. By changing the chemical potentials μ of the runs, one is able to model the most probable vorticity distributions for a wide range of total circulation and energy. The most probable vorticity distribution obtained at low positive temperatures are consistently close to a radially symmetric flat-top profiles. At high temperatures, the radially symmetric vorticity profiles are close to the Gaussian distribution.     

基态位涡径向分布对浅水涡旋系统动力稳定性的影响分析

本文基于正压浅水模型,分析基态位涡（Potential Vorticity：PV）结构对热带气旋（Tropical Cyclone：TC）类涡旋系统稳定性及其波动特征的影响.通过引入基态PV结构参数：宽度δ（眼墙内外边界涡度发生陡变的半径长度之比）和中空度γ（眼心相对涡度与内核区域平均相对涡度之比）,设计具有相同基流最大切向风速和最大风速半径的170组不同基态PV环结构的敏感性试验,并讨论了不同基态PV结构下涡旋系统最不稳定波数（the most unstable wavenumber：MUWN）和系统最不稳定模态（the most unstable mode of System：MUMS）的特征频率及其不稳定增长率的大小.结果指出：当PV环较宽,系统表现为低波数最不稳定,相应的MUMS为低频波且增长率小;当PV环较窄,系统表现为高波数不稳定,且PV环越实最不稳定波数越高;当PV环窄且空时,MUMS均为中高频波动,且不稳定增长率随PV环的宽度变窄和中空度变空而明显增大.分析典型PV结构下系统演变特征可知,当PV环较宽,MUMS表现为具有平衡约束的低频波动的线性不稳定特征;当PV环趋向窄且空时,MUMS的平衡性约束趋向弱化,同时不稳定增长表现为明显的指数型增长.进一步讨论系统内部非对称结构的形成和传播机制发现,对于弱不稳定的PV环来说,低波数波最不稳定的特征波动具有典型涡旋Rossby波特征;而对于强不稳定的PV环来说,高波数不稳定的特征波动混合波性质明显.     

Nonlinear baroclinic equilibration at finite supercriticality

The nonlinear equilibration of finite amplitude baroclinic waves in Phillips two-layer model is investigated at finite supercriticality. The aims are to quantify the robustness and relevance of the nonlinear theory of Warn, Gauthier and Pedlosky (WGP) for the evolution of the developing baroclinic wave, and to assess the tightness of pseudomomentum and improved pseudoenergy bounds for disturbance amplitude and energy. A high-resolution numerical model is used to perform a parameter sweep in (β,?W)-space, where β is the inverse criticality of the initial flow, and W is the ratio of the channel width to the (internal) Rossby radius. At low supercriticalities, the main predictions of WGP are found to be accurate at short times, but at long times the fully nonlinear results are found to diverge from WGP's solution. The mechanism for equilibration involves the elimination of the lower layer potential vorticity (PV) gradient, but as the supercriticality increases this is achieved by the roll-up of a train of opposite-signed vortices, rather than by coarse-grain PV homogenization as in WGP. Peak wave amplitudes are typically ≈90% of the maximum attainable under the pseudomomentum bound. New formulae are given for the pseudoenergy bound on disturbance energy which, unlike the WGP solution and the pseudomomentum bound, have non-trivial dependence on W. A detailed assessment is made of the extent to which these bounds are attained.     

Selection of Momentum Variables for a Three-Dimensional Variational Analysis

Three choices of control variables for meteorological variational analysis (3DVAR or 4DVAR) are associated with horizontal wind: (1) streamfunction and velocity potential, (2) eastward and northward velocity, and (3) vorticity and divergence. This study shows theoretical and numerical differences of these variables in practical 3DVAR data assimilation through statistical analysis and numerical experiments. This paper demonstrates that (a) streamfunction and velocity potential could potentially introduce analysis errors; (b) A 3DVAR using velocity or vorticity and divergence provides a natural scale dependent influence radius in addition to the covariance; (c) for a regional analysis, streamfunction and velocity potential are retrieved from the background velocity field with Neumann boundary condition. Improper boundary conditions could result in further analysis errors; (d) a variational data assimilation or an inverse problem using derivatives as control variables yields smoother analyses, for example, a 3DVAR using vorticity and divergence as controls yields smoother wind analyses than those analyses obtained by a 3DVAR using either velocity or streamfunction/velocity potential as control variables; and (e) statistical errors of higher order derivatives of variables are more independent, e.g., the statistical correlation between U and V is smaller than the one between streamfunction and velocity potential, and thus the variables in higher derivatives are more appropriate for a variational system when a cross-correlation between variables is neglected for efficiency or other reasons. In summary, eastward and northward velocity, or vorticity and divergence are preferable control variables for variational systems and the former is more attractive because of its numerical efficiency. Numerical experiments are presented using analytic functions and real atmospheric observations.     

Physical and numerical experiments on layered convection in a density-Stratified fluid

Abstract

The formation and growth of horizontal layered convection cells in a density stratified solution of salt water subject to an impulsively applied lateral temperature gradient is investigated with physical and numerical experiments. Results indicate that lyers are induced by two mechanisms. One is the successive formation of layers due to the presence of the top and bottom boundaries. The other is the spontaneous occurrence of layers when a suitably defined Rayleigh number exceeds a critical value. It is found that well established layers are homogeneous in temperature and salinity and are separated by sharp gradients in density. Lateral heat transfer is of a periodic nature. Numerical experiments were carried out for finite and infinite geometry cases. For the finite geometry case, convection cells are generated successively inward from the horizontal boundaries. For the infinite geometry case, periodic conditions in the vertical direction are assumed. With continuous input of small perturbations, simultaneous occurrence of the convection cells is obtained at supercritical Rayleigh numbers. Criteria for determining the onset of spontaneous cells numerically are explored.     

Convection in rotating annular channels heated from below. Part 3: Experimental boundary conditions

Results are presented from both linear stability analysis and numerical simulations of three-dimensional nonlinear convection in a Boussinesq fluid in an annular channel, under experimental boundary conditions, rotating about a vertical axis uniformly heated from below. The focus is placed on the Prandtl number Pr = 7.0, representing liquid water at room temperature. The linear analysis shows that, when the aspect ratio is sufficiently small, there exists only one stationary mode that occupies the whole fluid container. When the aspect ratio is moderate or large, however, there exist three different linear solutions: (i) the outer sidewall-localized traveling wave propagating against the sense of rotation; (ii) the inner sidewall-localized traveling wave propagating in the same sense as rotation; and (iii) both the counter-traveling waves occurring simultaneously. Guided by the result of the linear stability analysis, fully three-dimensional simulations are then performed for a channel with a moderate aspect ratio. It is found that neither the prograde nor the retrograde mode is physically realizable near threshold and beyond. The dynamics of nonlinear convection in a rotating channel are chiefly characterized by the interaction between the sidewall-localized waves and the interior convection cells/rolls, producing an interesting and unusual nonlinear phenomenon. In order to compare with the classical Rayleigh–Bénard problem without vertical sidewalls, we also study linear and nonlinear convection at exactly the same parameters but in an infinitely extended layer with periodic horizontal conditions. This reveals that both the linear instability and nonlinear convection in a rotating channel are characteristically different from those in a rotating layer with periodic horizontal conditions.     

A three‐dimensional numerical investigation of the idealized planetary boundary layer

Abstract

The nonlinear equations of motion are integrated numerically in time for a region of x‐y‐z space of volume 3h × h × h, where h turns out to be a height slightly above the level where the wind first attains the geostrophic flow direction. Only the ideal case is treated of a horizontal lower boundary, neutral stability, horizontal homogeneity of all dependent mean variables except the mean pressure, and statistically steady state. The resulting flow patterns are turbulent and the eddies transport required amounts of momentum vertically.

Topics which are investigated include the relative directions of stress, wind shear and wind; differences in Ekman wind spirals for the neutral numerical case and a stable atmospheric case; profiles of dimensionless turbulence statistics; effect of allowing the mean density to be either constant or to decrease with height; effect of the wind direction or latitude upon the turbulence intensities; and characteristic structure of the eddies in the planetary boundary layer.     

Linear Stability of Thermal Convection in Rotating Systems with Fixed Heat Flux Boundaries

Linear stability of rotating thermal convection in a horizontal layer of Boussinesq fluid under the fixed heat flux boundary condition is examined by the use of a vertically truncated system up to wavenumber one. When the rotation axis is in the vertical direction, the asymptotic behavior of the critical convection for large rotation rates is almost the same as that under the fixed temperature boundary condition. However, when the rotation axis is horizontal and the lateral boundaries are inclined, the mode with zero horizontal wavenumber remains as the critical mode regardless of the rotation rate. The neutral curve has another local minimum at a nonzero horizontal wavenumber, whose asymptotic behavior coincides with the critical mode under the fixed temperature condition. The difference of the critical horizontal wavenumber between those two geometries is qualitatively understood by the difference of wave characteristics; inertial waves and Rossby waves, respectively.     

The generation and decay of vorticity

Abstract

Vorticity, although not the primary variable of fluid dynamics, is an important derived variable playing both mathematical and physical roles in the solution and understanding of problems. The following treatment discusses the generation of vorticity at rigid boundaries and its subsequent decay. It is intended to provide a consistent and very broadly applicable framework within which a wide range of questions can be answered explicitly. The rate of generation of vorticity is shown to be the relative tangential acceleration of fluid and boundary without taking viscosity into account and the generating mechanism therefore involves the tangential pressure gradient within the fluid and the external acceleration of the boundary only. The mechanism is inviscid in nature and independent of the no-slip condition at the boundary, although viscous diffusion acts immediately after generation to spread vorticity outward from boundaries. Vorticity diffuses neither out of boundaries nor into them, and the only means of decay is by cross-diffusive annihilation within the fluid.     

Some interactions between small numbers of baroclinic,geostrophic vortices

Abstract

Various interactions between small numbers (two and four) of baroclinic, geostrophic point vortices in a two-layer system are studied with attention to the qualitative changes in behavior which occur as size of the deformation radius is varied.

A particularly interesting interaction, which illustrates the richness of baroclinic vortex dynamics, is a collision between two hetons. (A heton is a vortex pair in which the constituent vortices have opposite signs and are in opposite layers. The “breadth” of a heton is the distance between its constituent vortices. A translating heton transports heat.) When two hetons, which initially have different breadths, collide, the result is either an exchange of partners, or a “slip-through” collision in which the initial structures are preserved. It is shown here that the outcome is always an exchange, provided the deformation radius is sufficiently small. This strongly contrasts with a collision between pairs of classical, one-layer vortices in which no exchange occurs if the initial ratio of the breadths is sufficiently extreme.

Finally the transport of passive fluid by a translating baroclinic pair is investigated. A pair of vortices in the top layer transports no lower layer fluid if the distance between the vortices is less than 1.72 deformation radii. By contrast, the size of the region trapped by a heton increases without bound as the spacing between the vortices increases.     

The effects of alongshore variation in bottom topography on a boundary current—(topographically induced upwelling)

A theory which describes the constant f-plane flow of a steady inviscid baroclinic boundary current over a continental margin with a bathymetry that varies slowly in the alongshore but rapidly in the offshore directions is developed in the parameter regime (L_D/L)² ≤ Ro 1, where L_D is the internal deformation radius, L the horizontal length scale, and Ro the Rossby number. To lowest order in the Rossby number the flow is along isobaths with speed q_o = V_u(h,z)|Vh|/α, where V_u(h,z) is the upstream speed, α the upstream bottom slope at depth h, and Vh the bottom slope downstream at depth h. The lowest order flow produces a variation in the vertical component of relative vorticity along the isobath as the magnitude and direction of Vh vary in the downstream direction. The variation of vorticity requires a vertical as well as a cross-isobath flow at first order in the Rossby number. The first order vertical velocity is computed from the vorticity equation in terms of upstream conditions and downstream variations of the bathymetry. The density, pressure, and cross-isobath flow at first order in the Rossby number are then calculated. It is shown that in the cyclonic region of current (d/dh(V_u/α) > 0), if the isobaths diverge in the downstream direction ((∂/∂s)|Vh| < 0), then upwelling and onshore flow occur. The theory is applied to the northeastern Florida shelf to explain bottom temperature observations.     

An analytical study of general hyper-diffusivity and barotropic eddies

An exact solution to the barotropic potential vorticity equation is used to examine the properties of barotropic vortices under arbitrary nth-order hyper-diffusivity. Analytical expressions are derived for an eddy's lifetime, meridional drift, decay in size, and energy, as functions of the Coriolis parameter, order and magnitude of diffusivity, and the eddy's size, shape and strength. These expressions provide a simple explanation for many observed features of oceanic and atmospheric vortices. For example, the competition between the Coriolis effect and eddy strength in giving permitted eddy geometries; the bias towards a zonal anisotropy for large vortices but not for small ones; energetic preference for axisymmetry; poleward meridional drift of cyclonic vortices; and meridional speed variation depending on eddy geometry and strength.     

On the nonlinear evolution of columnar vortices in a rotating environment

We examine the three-dimensional, nonlinear evolution of columnar vortices in a rotating environment. As the initial vorticity distribution, a wavetrain of finite amplitude Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices in shear is employed. Through direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations we seek to better understand the process of maturation of the various three-dimensional modes of instability to which such vortical flows are subject, especially those which exist as a consequence of the action of the Coriolis force. In the absence of rotational influence, we thereby demonstrate that the nonlinear evolution of columnar vortices is most strongly controlled by one or the other of two mechanisms. One mechanism of instability is identifiable as a so-called elliptical instability, which promotes the initial bending of vortex tubes in a sinusoidal fashion, while the other is a hyperbolic mode, which is responsible for the development of streamwise vortex streaks in the "braids" between adjacent vortex cores. In the rotating case, anticyclonic vortices are strongly destabilized by weak background rotation, while rapid rotation stabilizes both the cyclones and anticyclones. The strong anticyclones are subject to two distinct forms of instability, namely a Coriolis force modified elliptical instability and an inertial (centrifugal) instability. The former instability is very similar to the nonrotating form of the elliptical instability as it promotes bending of vortex tubes, while the latter instability grows on the edge of the vortex core and generates streaks of vorticity, which surround the vortex core itself. These results of direct numerical simulation fully verify the results of previous linear stability analyses. Taken together, they provide a simple explanation for the broken symmetry that is often observed to be characteristic of the von Karman vortex streets that develop in the atmospheric lee of oceanic islands.     

Stability conditions of explicit integration algorithms when using 3D viscoelastic artificial boundaries

Viscoelastic artificial boundaries are widely adopted in numerical simulations of wave propagation problems. When explicit time-domain integration algorithms are used, the stability condition of the boundary domain is stricter than that of the internal region due to the influence of the damping and stiffness of an viscoelastic artificial boundary. The lack of a clear and practical stability criterion for this problem, however, affects the reasonable selection of an integral time step when using viscoelastic artificial boundaries. In this study, we investigate the stability conditions of explicit integration algorithms when using three-dimensional (3D) viscoelastic artificial boundaries through an analysis method based on a local subsystem. Several boundary subsystems that can represent localized characteristics of a complete numerical model are established, and their analytical stability conditions are derived from and further compared to one another. The stability of the complete model is controlled by the corner regions, and thus, the global stability criterion for the numerical model with viscoelastic artificial boundaries is obtained. Next, by analyzing the impact of different factors on stability conditions, we recommend a stability coefficient for practically estimating the maximum stable integral time step in the dynamic analysis when using 3D viscoelastic artificial boundaries.

     

FREQUENCY WAVENUMBER APPROACH OF THE τ-p TRANSFORM: SOME APPLICATIONS IN SEISMIC DATA PROCESSING*

The τ-p transform is an invertible transformation of seismic shot records expressed as a function of time and offset into the τ (intercept time) and p (ray parameter) domain. The τ-p transform is derived from the solution of the wave equation for a point source in a three-dimensional, vertically non-homogeneous medium and therefore is a true amplitude process for the assumed model. The main advantage of this transformation is to present a point source shot record as a series of plane wave experiments. The asymptotic expansion of this transformation is found to be useful in reflection seismic data processing. The τ-p and frequency-wavenumber (or f-k) processes are closely related. Indeed, the τ-p process embodies the frequency-wavenumber transformation, so the use of this technique suffers the same limitations as the f-k technique. In particular, the wavefield must be sampled with sufficient spatial density to avoid wavenumber aliasing. The computation of this transform and its inverse transform consists of a two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform followed by an interpolation, then by an inverse-time Fast Fourier Transform. This technique is extended from a vertically inhomogeneous three-dimensional medium to a vertically and laterally inhomogeneous three-dimensional medium. The τ-p transform may create artifacts (truncation and aliasing effects) which can be reduced by a finer spatial density of geophone groups by a balancing of the seismic data and by a tapering of the extremities of the seismic data. The τ-p domain is used as a temporary domain where the attack of coherent noise is well addressed; this technique can be viewed as ‘time-variant f-k filtering’. In addition, the process of deconvolution and multiple suppression in the τ-p domain is at least as well addressed as in the time-offset domain.     

Applicability of spectral analysis to determine hydraulic diffusivity

This study is to evaluate the applicability of estimating the one-dimensional horizontal hydraulic diffusivity of an unconfined aquifer with time-dependent fluctuation of lateral head and vertical recharge boundaries using observed water level spectra. Different models of boundary condition are imposed to evaluate the statistical significance between the calculated hydraulic diffusivity (ξ^′) with the given hydraulic diffusivity (ξ). The auto-spectra of the water level in observation wells tapping the same aquifer are closely related to those at the disturbed boundaries. For an aquifer with a constant hydraulic diffusivity, the water level fluctuation in the monitoring wells is linearly related to the water level spectra observed at the boundaries. The spectral density function of aquifer hydraulic head varies inversely with specific yield (S _y) and directly with recharge. Given small variation in water level spectra at the disturbed boundaries, the water level fluctuation in the aquifer is affected by the recharge condition and the aquifer spectral density function is sensitive to S _y. Using an iterative technique to estimate ξ from 1400 sets of given parameters, 99% of the ξ^′/ξ values deviated within only one order of magnitude with the model length (L) being equal to 1 km and 10 km. For L equal to 100 m, approximately 82% of the ξ^′/ξ population falls within two orders of magnitude. Therefore, spectral analysis of aquifer hydraulic head response can be used to estimate the hydraulic diffusivity of an unconfined aquifer which is affected by periodic variations in recharge and head at boundaries.