Galactic Spiral Arms and Dynamo Control Parameters

We discuss the effects of galactic spiral arms on the -coefficient, turbulent diffusivity and turbulent energy density of the interstellar turbulence. We argue that the -coefficient and the dynamo number are larger in the interarm regions, whereas the kinetic energy density of turbulence is larger in the arms; the turbulent magnetic diffusivity can be only weakly affected by the spiral pattern.     

Lattice dynamical system modelling of molecular clouds

Because a comprehensive microscopic treatment of interstellar molecular clouds is out of reach, an alternative approach is proposed in which most of the crucial ingredients of the problem are considered, but at some 'minimal' level of modelling. This leads to the elaboration of a lattice dynamical system , i.e. a time-dependent, spatially extended, deterministic system of macroscopic cells coupled through radiative transfer. Each cell is characterized by a small set of variables and supports a caricatural chemistry possessing the essential dynamical features of more realistic reaction schemes.   This approach naturally precludes quantitative results, but allows heretofore unavailable insights into some of the basic mechanisms at play. We focus on the response of the transfer process and the chemistry to a frozen 'turbulent' velocity field. It is shown that the system settles generically into a state where the effective coupling between cells is neither local nor global, and for which no single length-scale exists.   The spectral lines reconstructed from the spatiotemporal evolution of our model may, depending on the velocity field, exhibit profiles ranging from Gaussian to bimodal with strong realization effects. In the bimodal case, the model intrinsically displays an energy cascade transport mechanism to the cells that cool most efficiently: the feedback of chemistry on radiative transfer cannot be neglected.   Finally, extensions of this work are discussed and future developments are outlined.     

潮汐河口二维动床紊流模型

给出了正交曲线坐标系下平面二维非恒定动床紊流模型基本方程组,即水流运动方程及潮汐水流不平衡输沙方程。对计算中的有关问题提出了处理方法,如基本资料及代表潮过程选取、糙率的确定、悬沙粒径及沉速、挟沙能力恢复饱和系数及河床冲淤判别条件等。以甬江口为例,计算了镇海弯道至大游山口门约5km河段潮汐水流潮位及流速过程、丁坝作用下的回流域及疏浚与整治相结合的河床变形,计算结果与野外资料吻合良好。在此基础上,计算了宁波大桥桥墩作用下的水流结构变化及对镇海港航道的冲淤影响。     

The linkage between velocity patterns and sediment entrainment in a forced‐pool and riffle unit

A field‐based project was initiated in order to characterize velocities and sediment entrainment in a forced‐pool and riffle sequence. Three‐dimensional velocities and turbulence intensities were measured with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter at 222 different points at three similar flows that averaged approximately 4·35 m³ s⁻¹ within a large pool–riffle unit on North Saint Vrain Creek, Colorado. Sediment‐sorting patterns were observed with the introduction of 500 tracer particles painted according to initial seeding location. Tracer particles moved sporadically during a 113 day period in response to the annual snowmelt peak flow, which reached a maximum level of 14·8 m³ s⁻¹. Velocity data indicate high instantaneous velocities and turbulence levels in the centre of pools. Patterns of sediment deposition support the notion that stream competence is higher in the pool than the downstream riffle. Flow convergence around a large channel constriction appears to play a major role in multiple processes that include helical flow development and sediment routing, and backwater development with low velocities and turbulence levels above the constriction that may locally limit sediment supply. Jet flow, flow separation, vortex scour and turbulence generation enhance scour in the centre of pools. Ultimately, multiple processes appear to play some role in maintenance of this forced pool and the associated riffle. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Two Turbulence Closure Schemes in the Modelling of Tidal Currents and Salinity in the Hooghly Estuary

This paper has two purposes. The first is to study the circulation and salinity in Hooghly Estuary, along the east coast of India and the second is to compare the performance of two turbulence closure schemes by modelling it. A breadth averaged numerical model using a sigma co-ordinate system in the vertical is briefly described. Vertical diffusion of momentum and salt are parameterized by a simple first-order turbulent closure or by a one equation model for turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) which uses a specified mixing length. The results are compared with the available neap and spring tide observations along the estuary for both low and high discharge periods.The computed elevations and currents are in reasonable agreement with the observations showing no major differences in vertical current profiles by both the turbulent schemes. However, there is a slight under-prediction of bottom currents. The salinity profiles predicted by TKE model show better matching with observations. Statistical tests are also conducted to study the comparative performance of the turbulent closure schemes. The maintenance of two layer structure in residual currents and salt variability are also studied by using the model.     

New Experimental Platform for Studies of Turbulence and Turbulent Mixing in Accelerating and Rotating Fluids at High Reynolds Numbers

We present a new experimental platform for studies of turbulence and turbulent mixing in accelerating and rotating fluids. The technology is based on the ultra-high performance optical holographic digital data storage. The state-of-the-art electro-mechanical, electronic, and laser components allow for realization of turbulent flows with high Reynolds number (>10⁷) in a relatively small form-factor, and quantification of their properties with extremely high spatio-temporal resolutions and high data acquisition rates. The technology can be applied for investigation of a large variety of hydrodynamic problems including the fundamental properties of non-Kolmogorov turbulence and turbulent mixing in accelerating, rotating and multiphase flows, magneto-hydrodynamics, and laboratory astrophysics. Unique experimental and metrological capabilities enable the studies of spatial and temporal properties of the transports of momentum, angular momentum, and energy and the identification of scalings, invariants, and statistical properties of these complex turbulent flows.