Entrainment of a turbulent patch in a stratified fluid etc15 Tracking Number 443Presentation: Session: Geophysical and astrophysical turbulence 3 Room: Room C Session start: 10:30 Fri 28 Aug 2015 Lilly Verso lillyverso@gmail.com Affifliation: Tel Aviv University Maarten van Reeuwijk m.vanreeuwijk@imperial.ac.uk Affifliation: Imperial College Roi Gurka rgurka@coastal.edu Affifliation: Coastal Carolina University Peter Diamessis pjd38@cornell.edu Affifliation: Cornell University Alex Liberzon alexlib@eng.tau.ac.il Affifliation: Tel Aviv University Topics: - Transport and mixing, - Geophysical and astrophysical turbulence 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. |