Measurements of vertical overturns in a stably stratified turbulent flow

The vertical overturns occurring behind a biplane grid placed in a continuously stratified water channel were measured with a high‐speed vertical density profiler. The resulting scale (L T )rms, known as the Thorpe scale is compared to the Ozmidov scale L R =(ε/N 3)1 / 2 and the Eulerian turbulent s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Physics of fluids (1958) 1984-04, Vol.27 (4), p.764-766
Main Author: Itsweire, Eric C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid dynamics
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Physics
Turbulent flows, convection, and heat transfer
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Summary:The vertical overturns occurring behind a biplane grid placed in a continuously stratified water channel were measured with a high‐speed vertical density profiler. The resulting scale (L T )rms, known as the Thorpe scale is compared to the Ozmidov scale L R =(ε/N 3)1 / 2 and the Eulerian turbulent scale l=2ρ′/(dρ̄/d z). For buoyancy‐dominated or stratified turbulence, l and (L T )rms are linearly related, but when all turbulent overturning events have ceased, (L T )rms is shown to decay at a faster rate. Vertical displacements larger than the Ozmidov scale are observed implying that some previously turbulent scales have become fossil turbulence.
ISSN:0031-9171
2163-4998
DOI:10.1063/1.864704