High resolution numerical simulations and modeling of optical turbulence across jet streams

Alex Mahalov; Basil Nicolaenko

doi:10.1117/12.620975

18 August 2005 High resolution numerical simulations and modeling of optical turbulence across jet streams

Alex Mahalov, Basil Nicolaenko

Proceedings Volume 5891, Atmospheric Optical Modeling, Measurement, and Simulation; 58910B (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.620975
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Results from high-resolution, forced, three-dimensional direct numerical simulations on the vertical variability of shear-stratified turbulence and its outer length scales in nonuniformly stratified tropopause jets are presented. Vertical scales 1m-50m are resolved. Turbulent dynamics leads to the formation of an N²-notch which favors gravity wave emission well within the temperature mixing layer. We demonstrate that, in inhomogeneous shear-stratified turbulence, scaling of various turbulent quantities (such as variances, fluxes, mixing efficiency, turbulence outer scales) with respect to a single parameter (such as the gradient Richardson number) typically exhibit multiple branches. Certain qualitative changes in eddy mixing during transitional regimes towards stronger stratification are highlighted. The behaviour of turbulent eddy mixing parameters found in these studies is consistent with some recent observational results in stably stratified atmospheric shear flows. The implication of this study is that such transitions and multiple scalings need to be accounted in the parameterization of microscale atmospheric optical turbulence.

Citation Download Citation

Alex Mahalov and Basil Nicolaenko "High resolution numerical simulations and modeling of optical turbulence across jet streams", Proc. SPIE 5891, Atmospheric Optical Modeling, Measurement, and Simulation, 58910B (18 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.620975

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