| Peer-Reviewed

Zonal Jets in Rotating Shallow Water Turbulence

Published: 2 April 2013
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

During the last three decades, the appearance of multiple zonal jets in planetary atmospheres and in the Earth’s oceans has widely studied. Evidences of this phenomenon were recovered in numerical simulations [1], laboratory experi-ments [2-4] and in field measurements of giant planets’ atmosphere [5]. Recent studies have revealed the presence of zonation also in the Earth’s oceans; in fact, zonal jets were recovered in the outputs of Oceanic General Circulation Models-GCMs [6] and from satellite altimetry observations [7]. In previous works [3-4], we have investigated the impact of several experimental parameters on jets organization both in decaying and forced regimes. This work shows new results in the context of continuously forced flows obtained performing experiments in a bigger domain. The experimental set-up consists of a rotating tank where the initial distribution of vorticity is generated via the Lorentz force in an electromagnetic cell and the latitudinal variation of the Coriolis parameter is simulated by the parabolic profile assumed by the free surface of the rotating fluid. The velocity fields were measured using an image analysis technique. The flow is characterized in terms of zonal and radial flow pattern, flow variability and jet scales.

Published in Earth Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11
Page(s) 23-30
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Zonal Jets, Β-Plane Turbulence, Laboratory Experiments

References
[1] G. K. Vallis and M. E. Maltrud, "Generation of mean flows and jets on a beta plane and over topography", J. Phys. Oceanogr., vol. 23, pp. 1346-1362, 1993.
[2] Y. D. Afanasyev and J. Wells, "Quasi-two-dimensional tur-bulence on the polar beta-plane: Laboratory experiments", Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., vol. 99, pp.1-17, 2005.
[3] S. Espa, G. F. Carnevale, A. Cenedese and M. Mariani, "Quasi two-dimensional decaying turbulence subject to the β-effect", J. Turbulence, vol. 9, pp. 1–18, 2008.
[4] S. Espa, G. Di Nitto and A. Cenedese, "The emergence of zonal jets in forced rotating shallow water turbulence: A laboratory study", Europh. Letters, vol. 92-34006, pp. 1–6, 2010.
[5] B. Galperin, S. Sukoriansky and H. P. Huang, "Universal n−5 spectrum of zonal flows on giant planets", Phys. Fluids, vol. 13, pp. 1545–1548, 2001.
[6] H. Nakano, and H. Hasumi, "A series of jets embedded in the broad zonal flows in the Pacific obtained in eddy-permitting ocean general circulation models", J. Phys. Oceanogr., vol. 35, pp. 474–488, 2005.
[7] N. A. Maximenko, B. Bang, and H. Sasaki, "Observational evidence of alternating zonal jets in the world ocean", Geophys. Research Lett., vol. 32, L12607, 2005.
[8] P. B. Rhines, "Waves and turbulence on a beta plane", J. Fluid Mech., vol. 69, pp. 417–443, 2005.
[9] S. Sukoriansky, N. Dikovskaya and B. Galperin, "On the "arrest" of inverse energy cascade and the Rhines scale". J. Fluid Mech., vol. 64, pp. 3312–3327, 2007.
[10] S. Yoden and M. Yamada, "A numerical experiment on two-dimensional decaying turbulence on a rotating sphere", J. Atmos. Scie., vol. 50, pp. 631–643, 1993.
[11] J. Y. K. Cho and L. M. Polvani, "The emergence of jets and vortices in freely evolving, shallow-water turbulence on a sphere", Phys. Fluids, vol. 8(6), pp. 1531-1552, 1996.
[12] H.-P. Huang and W. A. Robinson, "Two-dimensional turbu-lence and persistent zonal jets in a global barotropic model", J. Atmos. Sciences, vol. 55, pp. 611–629, 1998.
[13] M. E. Maltrud and G. Vallis, "Energy spectra and coherent structures in forced two-dimensional and beta-plane turbu-lence", J. Fluid. Mech., vol. 228, pp. 321-342, 1991.
[14] G. P. Williams, "Planetary circulations: 1. Barotropic repre-sentation of Jovian and terrestrial turbulence", J. Atmos. Scie., vol. 35, pp. 1399-1426, 1978.
[15] R. Scott and L. Polvani, "Forced-dissipative shallow-water turbulence on the sphere and the atmospheric circulation of the giant planets", J. Atmos. Sci., vol. 64, 3158-3176, 2007.
[16] T. Nozawa and S. Yoden, "Formation of zonal band structure in forced two-dimensional turbulence on a rotating sphere", Phys. Fluids, vol. 9, pp. 2081-2093, 1997.
[17] R. L. Panetta, "Zonal jets in wide baroclinically unstable regions: Persistence and scale selection", J. Atmos. Sci., vol. 50, pp. 2073-2106, 1993.
[18] B. Galperin, S. Sukoriansky, N. Dikovskaya, P. L. Read, Y. H. Yamazaki and R. Wordsworth, "Anisotropic turbulence and zonal jets in rotating flows with a β-effect", Nonlinear proc. in Geo., vol. 13, pp. 83-98, 2006.
[19] B. Galperin, S. Sukoriansky and N. Dikovskaya, "Zono-strophic turbulence", Phys. Scr. T132, 2008.
[20] S. Sukoriansky, B. Galperin and N. Dikovskaya, "Universal Spectrum of Two-Dimensional Turbulence on a Rotating Sphere and Some Basic Features of Atmospheric Circulation on Giant Planets". Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 89, 12450 , 2002.
[21] H. P. Huang, B. Galperin, S. Sukoriansky, "Anisotropic spectra in two-dimensional turbulence on the surface of a rotating sphere", Phys. of Fluids, vol. 13, pp. 225-240, 2001.
[22] B. Galperin, H. Nakano, H. P. Huang and S. Sukoriansky, "The ubiquitous zonal jets in the atmospheres of giant planets and Earth’s oceans", Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 31, L13303, 2004.
[23] A. Chekhlov, S. Orszag, S. Sukoriansky, B. Galperin and I. Staroselsky, "The effect of small-scale forcing on large-scale structures in two-dimensional flows". Physica D, vol. 98, pp. 321-334, 1996.
[24] J. A. Whitehead JR., "Mean flow generated by circulation on a β-plane: An analogy with the moving flame experiment", Tellus, vol. 27, pp. 358–364, 1975.
[25] R. Hide and P. J. Mason, "Sloping convection in a rotating fluid", Adv. in Phys., vol. 24, pp. 47-100, 1975.
[26] M. E. Bastin and P. L. Read, "Experiments on the structure of baroclinic waves and zonal jets in an internally heated, rotating, cylinder of fluid", Phys. of Fluids, vol. 10, pp. 374-389, 1998.
[27] R. D. Wordsworth, P. L. Read and Y. H. Yamazaki, "Turbu-lence, waves, and jets in a differentially heated rotating an-nulus experiment", Phys. of fluids, vol. 20, 126602, 2008.
[28] J. Aubert, S. Jung, and H. L. Swinney, "Observations of zonal flow created by potential vorticity mixing in a rotating fluid", Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 29(18), 1876, 2002.
[29] P. Tabeling, S. Burkhart, O. Cardoso and H. Willaime, "Ex-perimental study of freely decaying two-dimensional turbu-lence", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 67, pp. 3772-3775, 1991.
[30] H. J. H. Clercx, G. J. F. van Heijst and M. L. Zoeteweij, "Quasi-two-dimensional turbulence in shallow fluid layers: The role of bottom friction and fluid layer depth", Phys. Rev. E, vol. 67, 066303, 2003.
[31] G. Boffetta, A. Cenedese, S. Espa and S. Musacchio, "Effects of friction on 2D turbulence: an experimental study", Europhys. Letters, vol. 71(4), pp. 590–596, 2005.
[32] R. A. D. Akkermans, L. J. P. Kamp, H. J. H. Clercx and G. J. F. van Heijst, "Intrinsic three-dimensionality in electromag-netically driven shallow flows", Europhys. Lett., vol. 83, 24001, 2008.
[33] G. A. Voth, G. Haller, and J. P. Gollub, "Experimental Mea-surements of Stretching Fields in Fluid Mixing", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 88, 254501, 2002.
[34] N. F. Bondarenko, M. Z. Gak, and F. V. Dolzhanskiy, "La-boratory and theoretical models of plane periodic flows", Atmos. Oceanic Phys., vol. 15, pp. 711–716, 1979.
[35] S. Espa, A. Cenedese, M. Mariani and G. F. Carnevale, "Quasi-twodimensional flow on the polar β-plane: laboratory experiments", J. Mar. Syst., vol. 77, pp. 502-510, 2009.
[36] S. Espa, I. Bordi, T. Frisius, K. Fraedrich, A. Cenedese and A. Sutera, "Zonal jets and cyclone/anticyclone asymmetry in decaying rotating turbulence: laboratory experiments and numerical simulations", Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., DOI:10.1080/03091929.2011.637301, 2012.
[37] P. L. Read, Y. H. Yamazaki, S. Lewis, P. Williams, R. Wordsworth, K. Miki-Yamazaki, J. Sommeria, H. Didelle and A. M. Fincham, "Dynamics of Convectively Driven Banded Jets in the Laboratory", J. Atmos. Sci., vol. 64, pp. 4031-4052, 2007.
[38] Y. D. Afanasyev, S. O'Leary, P. B. Rhines, and E. Lindahl, "On the origin of jets in the ocean", Geophys. and Astrophys. Fluid Dyn.,vol. 106(2), pp. 113-137, 2011.
[39] A. G. Slavin and Y. D. Afanasyev, "Multiple zonal jets on the polar beta-plane", Phys. of Fluids, vol. 24, 016603, 2012.
[40] J. Pedlosky, "Geophysical Fluid Dynamics". Springer-Verlag, New York Inc., 1987.
[41] M. Moroni and A. Cenedese, "Comparison among feature tracking and more consolidated velocimetry image analysis techniques in a fully developed turbulent channel flow", Meas. Sci. Technol., vol. 16, pp. 2307-2322, 2005.
[42] J. S. Bendat and A. G. Piersol, "Random Data-Analysis and Measurement Procedure" (ed. Barnett V. et al.), p. 106. Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2000.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    G. Di Nitto, S. Espa, A. Cenedese. (2013). Zonal Jets in Rotating Shallow Water Turbulence. Earth Sciences, 2(2), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    G. Di Nitto; S. Espa; A. Cenedese. Zonal Jets in Rotating Shallow Water Turbulence. Earth Sci. 2013, 2(2), 23-30. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    G. Di Nitto, S. Espa, A. Cenedese. Zonal Jets in Rotating Shallow Water Turbulence. Earth Sci. 2013;2(2):23-30. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11,
      author = {G. Di Nitto and S. Espa and A. Cenedese},
      title = {Zonal Jets in Rotating Shallow Water Turbulence},
      journal = {Earth Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {23-30},
      doi = {10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.earth.20130202.11},
      abstract = {During the last three decades, the appearance of multiple zonal jets in planetary atmospheres and in the Earth’s oceans has widely studied. Evidences of this phenomenon were recovered in numerical simulations [1], laboratory experi-ments [2-4] and in field measurements of giant planets’ atmosphere [5]. Recent studies have revealed the presence of zonation also in the Earth’s oceans; in fact, zonal jets were recovered in the outputs of Oceanic General Circulation Models-GCMs [6] and from satellite altimetry observations [7]. In previous works [3-4], we have investigated the impact of several experimental parameters on jets organization both in decaying and forced regimes. This work shows new results in the context of continuously forced flows obtained performing experiments in a bigger domain. The experimental set-up consists of a rotating tank where the initial distribution of vorticity is generated via the Lorentz force in an electromagnetic cell and the latitudinal variation of the Coriolis parameter is simulated by the parabolic profile assumed by the free surface of the rotating fluid. The velocity fields were measured using an image analysis technique. The flow is characterized in terms of zonal and radial flow pattern, flow variability and jet scales.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Zonal Jets in Rotating Shallow Water Turbulence
    AU  - G. Di Nitto
    AU  - S. Espa
    AU  - A. Cenedese
    Y1  - 2013/04/02
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11
    T2  - Earth Sciences
    JF  - Earth Sciences
    JO  - Earth Sciences
    SP  - 23
    EP  - 30
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5982
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20130202.11
    AB  - During the last three decades, the appearance of multiple zonal jets in planetary atmospheres and in the Earth’s oceans has widely studied. Evidences of this phenomenon were recovered in numerical simulations [1], laboratory experi-ments [2-4] and in field measurements of giant planets’ atmosphere [5]. Recent studies have revealed the presence of zonation also in the Earth’s oceans; in fact, zonal jets were recovered in the outputs of Oceanic General Circulation Models-GCMs [6] and from satellite altimetry observations [7]. In previous works [3-4], we have investigated the impact of several experimental parameters on jets organization both in decaying and forced regimes. This work shows new results in the context of continuously forced flows obtained performing experiments in a bigger domain. The experimental set-up consists of a rotating tank where the initial distribution of vorticity is generated via the Lorentz force in an electromagnetic cell and the latitudinal variation of the Coriolis parameter is simulated by the parabolic profile assumed by the free surface of the rotating fluid. The velocity fields were measured using an image analysis technique. The flow is characterized in terms of zonal and radial flow pattern, flow variability and jet scales.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • DICEA, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

  • DICEA, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

  • DICEA, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

  • Sections