European Turbulence Conference 2015

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11:00
15 mins

Entrainment of a turbulent patch in a stratified fluid
Lilly Verso, Maarten van Reeuwijk, Roi Gurka, Peter Diamessis, Alex Liberzon

Session: Geophysical and astrophysical turbulence 3
Session starts: Friday 28 August, 10:30
Presentation starts: 11:00
Room: Room C

Lilly Verso (Tel Aviv University)
Maarten van Reeuwijk (Imperial College)
Roi Gurka (Coastal Carolina University)
Peter Diamessis (Cornell University)
Alex Liberzon (Tel Aviv University)

Abstract:
Turbulent patches are localized events of turbulence, typically characterized by sharp differences between the flow characteristics across their interfaces. These localized events might add to the global mixing, heat exchange and mass transfer, playing a non-negligible role in the total energy balance in lakes or the ocean. This study takes a detailed look at the inner structure of a localized, mechanically forced patch in a linearly stratified ambient using laboratory experiments utilizing synchronized PIV and PLIF. The results point out that the role of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface at the edge of the patch could be significant in determining the growth rate and the maximum size of the patch.