Persistent mixing bursts in the equatorial Pacific thermocline induced by persistent equatorial waves

A recent study by Liu et al.(2020)suggested that due to the saturation of equatorially trapped planetary waves with different dynamical types,temporal periods,meridional and baroclinic modes,complex layer structures of vertical velocity shear and hence turbulent mixing could frequently occur in the thermocline of the eastern equatorial Pacific.We investigated the occurrence of the interior turbulent mixing as indicated by shear instabilities,above the Equatorial Undercurrent(EUC)core at three equatorial sites along 140°W,170°W,and 165°E,respectively,based mainly on data from the Tropical Atmosphere and Ocean(TAO)mooring array.We found that turbulent mixing bursts persisted in the thermocline of all three sites.Specifically,the interior turbulent mixing layers(ITMLs)could occur in probability of approximately 68%,53%,and 48%at the three sites,respectively.The overall occurrence probability shows obvious and similar biannual variations at 140°W and 170°W,which is higher in boreal from late summer to winter and lower in spring.Vertically,the ITMLs are primarily located above the EUC core and prevail in deeper(shallower)layers from late summer to winter(spring).Most ITMLs(70%)lasted for hours to 3 days,and a few of them(15%)for more than 7 days.The thicknesses of ITMLs were concentrated between 15 and 55 m.At 165°E,the vertical distribution of ITML occurrence probability was different from that at 140°W and 170°W,as it did not show a preference for depths;the durations of ITMLs are short(also from hours to several days)and their thicknesses were between 5 and 25 m.These properties,particularly the high occurrence probability,and short durations demonstrated the persistence of thermocline mixing in the western to eastern equatorial Pacific thermocline and confirmed the generation mechanism by persistent equatorial waves as well.

Observed characteristics of flow,water mass,and turbulent mixing in the Preparis Channel

Preparis Channel is the very important exchange path of energy and materials between the northern Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea(AS).A set of hydrographic measurements,a microstructure profiler,and a deep mooring were used to determine the characteristics of water masses,turbulent mixing,and flows in the Preparis Channel.The unprecedented short-term mooring data reveal that a deep current in the deep narrow passage(below 400 m)of the Preparis Channel flows toward the Bay of Bengal(BoB)with a mean along-stream velocity of 25.26 cm/s at depth of 540 m;above the deep current,there are a relatively weak current flows toward the AS with a mean along-stream velocity of 15.46 cm/s between 500 m and 520 m,and another weak current flows toward the BoB between 430 m and 500 m.Thus,a sandwiched vertical structure of deep currents(below 400 m)is present in the Preparis Channel.The volume transport below 400 m is 0.06 Sv(1 Sv=106 m^(3)/s)from the AS to the BoB.In the upper layer(shallower than 300 m),the sea water of the AS is relatively warmer and fresher than that in the BoB,indicating a strong exchange through the channel.Microstructure profiler observations reveal that the turbulent diffusivity in the upper layer of the Preparis Channel reaches O(10−4 m^(2)/s),one order larger than that in the interior of the BoB and over the continental slope of the northern AS.We speculate that energetic high-mode internal tides in the Preparis Channel contribute to elevated turbulent mixing.In addition,a local“hotspot”of turbidity is identified at the deep mooring site,at depth of about 100 m,which corresponds to the location of elevated turbulent mixing in the Preparis Channel.

Direct numerical simulation of elastic turbulence and its mixing-enhancement effect in a straight channel flow

In this paper,we present a direct numerical simulation（DNS） of elastic turbulence of viscoelastic fluid at vanishingly low Reynolds number（Re = 1） in a three-dimensional straight channel flow for the first time,using the Giesekus constitutive model for the fluid.In order to generate and maintain the turbulent fluid motion in the straight channel,a sinusoidal force term is added to the momentum equation,and then the elastic turbulence is numerically realized with an initialized chaotic velocity field and a stretched conformation field.Statistical and structural characteristics of the elastic turbulence therein are analyzed based on the detailed information obtained from the DNS.The fluid mixing enhancement effect of elastic turbulence is also demonstrated for the potential applications of this phenomenon.

Observations of upper layer turbulent mixing in the southern South China Sea

A turbulent microstructure experiment was undertaken at a low latitude of 10°N in the South China Sea in late August 2012. The characteristics of the eddy diffusivity above 650 m were analyzed, which is one order of magnitude larger than that in the open ocean at that low latitude. Enhanced eddy diffusivities by strong shears and sharp changes in topography were observed. The strongest eddy diffusivity occurred in the mixed layer, and it reached O（10^-2 m^2/s）. Strong stratification in the thermocline inhibited the penetration of surface eddy diffusivities through the thermocline, where the mixing was weakest. Below the thermocline, where the background eddy diffusivity was approximately O（10^-6 m^2/s）, the eddy diffusivity increased with depth, and its largest value was O（10^-3 m^2/s）.

Spatial structure of turbulent mixing of an anticyclonic mesoscale eddy in the northern South China Sea

Upper turbulent mixing in the interior and surrounding areas of an anticyclonic eddy in the northern South China Sea(SCS)was estimated from underwater glider data(May 2015)in the present study,using the Gregg-HenyeyPolzin parameterization and the Thorpe-scale method.The observations revealed a clear asymmetrical spatial pattern of turbulent mixing in the anticyclonic eddy area.Enhanced diffusivity(in the order of 10–3 m2/s)was found at the posterior edge of the anticyclonic mesoscale eddy;on the anterior side,diffusivity was one order of magnitude lower on average.This asymmetrical pattern was highly correlated with the eddy kinetic energy.Higher shear variance on the posterior side,which is conducive to the triggering of shear instability,may be the main mechanism for the elevated diffusivity.In addition,the generation and growth of sub-mesoscale motions that are fed by mesoscale eddies on their posterior side may also promote the occurrence of strong mixing in the studied region.The results of this study help improve our knowledge regarding turbulent mixing in the northern SCS.

The cruise observation of turbulent mixing in the upwelling region east of Hainan Island in the summer of 2012

The turbulent mixing in the upwelling region east of Hainan Island in the South China Sea is analyzed based on in situ microstructure observations made in July 2012. During the observation, strong upwelling appears in the coastal waters, which are 3℃ cooler than the offshore waters and have a salinity 1.0 greater than that of the offshore waters. The magnitude of the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy ε in the upwelling region is O（10–9 W/kg）, which is comparable to the general oceanic dissipation. The inferred eddy diffusivity Kρ is O（10–6 m2/s）, which is one order of magnitude lower than that in the open ocean. The values are elevated to Kρ≈O（10–4 m2/s） near the boundaries. Weak mixing in the upwelling region is consistent with weak instability as a result of moderate shears versus strong stratifications by the joint influence of surface heating and upwelling of cold water.The validity of two fine-scale structure mixing parameterization models are tested by comparison with the observed dissipation rates. The results indicate that the model developed by Mac Kinnon and Gregg in 2003 provides relatively better estimates with magnitudes close to the observations. Mixing parameterization models need to be further improved in the coastal upwelling region.

Turbulent mixing in the upper ocean of the northwestern Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Turbulent mixing in the upper ocean（30-200 m） of the northwestern Weddell Sea is investigated based on profiles of temperature,salinity and microstructure data obtained during February 2014.Vertical thermohaline structures are distinct due to geographic features and sea ice distribution,resulting in that turbulent dissipation rates（ε） and turbulent diffusivity（K） are vertically and spatially non-uniform.On the shelf north of Antarctic Peninsula and Philip Ridge,with a relatively homogeneous vertical structure of temperature and salinity through the entire water column in the upper 200 m,both ε and K show significantly enhanced values in the order of O（10^（-7））-O（10^（-6）） W/kg and O（10^（-3））-O（10^（-2）） m^2/s respectively,about two or three orders of magnitude higher than those in the open ocean.Mixing intensities tend to be mild due to strong stratification in the Powell Basin and South Orkney Plateau,where s decreases with depth from O（10^（-8）） to O（10^（-9）） W/kg,while K changes vertically in an inverse direction relative to s from O（10^（-6）） to O（10^（-5）） m^2/s.In the marginal ice zone,K is vertically stable with the order of10^（-4） m^2/s although both intense dissipation and strong stratification occur at depth of 50-100 m below a cold freshened mixed layer.Though previous studies indentify wind work and tides as the primary energy sources for turbulent mixing in coastal regions,our results indicate weak relationship between K and wind stress or tidal kinetic energy.Instead,intensified mixing occurs with large bottom roughness,demonstrating that only when internal waves generated by wind and tide impinge on steep topography can the energy dissipate to support mixing.In addition,geostrophic current flowing out of the Weddell Sea through the gap west of Philip Passage is another energy source contributing to the local intense mixing.

The influence of turbulent mixing on the subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer in the northern South China Sea

We present observations from deployments of turbulent microstructure instrument and CTD package in the northern South China Sea from April to May 2010.From them we determined the turbulent mixing(dissipation rateεand diapycnal diffusivityκ),nutrients(phosphate,nitrate,and nitrite),nutrient fluxes,and chlorophyll a in two transects(A and B).Transect A was located in the region where turbulent mixing in the upper 100 m was weak(κ~10-6-10-4 m^(2)/s).Transect B was located in the region where the turbulent mixing in the upper 100 m was strong(κ~10-5-10-3 m^(2)/s)due to the influence of internal waves originating from the Luzon Strait and water intrusion from the Western Pacific.In both transects,there was a thin subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer(SCML)(>0.25 mg/m^(3))nested in the upper 100 m.The observations indicate that the effects of turbulent mixing on the distributions of nutrients and chlorophyll a were different in the two transects.In the transect A with weak turbulent mixing,nutrient fluxes induced by turbulent mixing transported nutrients to the SCML but not to the upper water.Nutrients were sufficient to support a local SCML phytoplankton population and the SCML remained compact.In the transect B with strong turbulent mixing,nutrient fluxes induced by turbulent mixing transported nutrients not only to the SCML but also to the upper water,which scatters the nutrients in the water column and diffuses the SCML.

Spatial and temporal variability of turbulent mixing in the near-field of the Changjiang River

Based on field hydrological,microstructural,and shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler data,we quantified the spatial and temporal variability of turbulent mixing in the near-field Changjiang(Yangtze)River plume.The surface dissipation rate(ε)changed by three orders of magnitude from near-field(10^-4 W/kg)to far-field(10^-7 W/kg)plumes,indicating a decrease with distance from the river mouth.Below the river plume,εchanged with depth to 10^-8 W/kg,and increased to 10^-6 W/kg at the layer where the Taiwan Warm Current(TWC)intruded.Thus,εin the near-field plume showed three layers:surface layer in the river plume,middle layer,and lower TWC layer.In the river plume,the strongestεand turbulent diffusivity(Kz)were greater than 10^-4 W/kg and 10^-2 m^2/s,respectively,during strong ebb tides.A three-orders-of-magnitude change inεand Kz was observed in the tidal cycle.The depth of the halocline changed with tidal cycles,and stratification(N 2)varied by one order of magnitude.Stratification in the TWC layer followed the distribution of the halocline,which is opposite to the dissipation structure.Tidal currents led to intrusion and turbulent mixing in the TWC layer.During ebb tides,εand Kz were as strong as those measured in the river plume,but did not last as long.The structure of the velocity shear was similar to the dissipation rate in both the river plume and TWC layer,whereas the velocity shear in the TWC layer did not match the stratification structure.In the high dissipation rate area,the gradient Richardson number was smaller than the critical value(Ri g<1/4).The Ri g structure was consistent with shear and dissipation distributions,indicating that turbulent mixing in the near-field plume was controlled by a combination of shear induced by the discharged river flow and tidal current.

Eulerian-Lagranigan simulation of aerosol evolution in turbulent mixing layer

The formation and evolution of aerosol in turbulent flows are ubiquitous in both industrial processes and nature. The intricate interaction of turbulent mixing and aerosol evolution in a canonical turbulent mixing layer was investigated by a direct numerical simulation （DNS） in a recent study （Zhou, K., Attili, A., Alshaarawi, A., and Bisetti, F. Simulation of aerosol nucleation and growth in a turbulent mixing layer. Physics of Fluids, 26, 065106 （2014））. In this work, Monte Carlo （MC） simulation of aerosol evolution is carried out along Lagrangian trajectories obtained in the previous simulation, in order to quantify the error of the moment method used in the previous simulation. Moreover, the particle size distribution （PSD）, not available in the previous works, is also investigated. Along a fluid parcel moving through the turbulent flow, temperature and vapor concentration exhibit complex fluctuations, triggering complicate aerosol processes and rendering complex PSD. However, the mean PSD is found to be bi-modal in most of the mixing layer except that a tri-modal distribution is found in the turbulent transition region. The simulated PSDs agree with the experiment observations available in the literature. A different explanation on the formation of such PSDs is provided.

REVIEW OF TURBULENT MIXING MODELS

Fluid mixing is an important phenomenon in many physical applications from supernova explosions to genetic structure formations. In this paper, we overview some theoretical and empirical dynamic mix models, which have been developed over the recent decades, in particular, the ensemble-average micro physical mix model, the multifluid interpenetration mix model, the phenomenological and hybrid turbulent mix models, the buoyancy drag mix model, the single fluid turbulence mix model, and the large eddy simulation mix model. The similarities, distinctions, and connections between these models and their applications are discussed.

Infl uence of sequential tropical cyclones on phytoplankton blooms in the northwestern South China Sea

Upper ocean responses to the passage of sequential tropical cyclones over the northwestern South China Sea(SCS)in 2011 were investigated using satellite remote sensing data,Argo reanalysis data,and an array of mooring data.We found that the sea surface low temperature region lasted for more than 38 days and two phytoplankton blooms occurred after the passage of sequential tropical cyclones.The upper ocean cooling reached 2–5°C with a right-side bias was observed along the typhoon track to about 200 km.The maintenance of low temperature region and the two phytoplankton blooms were mainly driven by upwelling and near-inertial turbulence mixing induced by the sequential tropical cyclones.The fi rst phytoplankton bloom appeared on the 7 th day after the passage of the three tropical cyclones,and the chlorophyll-a(chl-a)concentration increased by 226%,which may be mainly driven by typhoons induced upwelling.The second phytoplankton bloom occurred on the 30 th day,the chl-a concentration increased by 290%.Further analysis suggested that only the typhoons with similar characteristics as Nesat and Nalgae can induce strong near-inertial oscillation(NIO).Strong turbulent mixing associated with the near-inertial baroclinic shear instability lasted for 26 days.The measured mean eddy diff usivity in the upper ocean was above 10-4 m 2/s after typhoon Nesat.Enhancement of the turbulent mixing in the upper ocean helped to transport nutrient-rich cold waters from the deep layer to the euphotic layer,and is a major mechanism for the long-term maintenance of low temperature region as well as the second phytoplankton bloom.

Effect of noncircular orifice plates on the near flow field of turbulent free jets

In this paper, we experimentally investigate the near-field flow characteristics of turbulent free jets respectively issued from circular, triangular, diamond, rectangular, and notched-rectangular orifice plates into air surroundings. All the orifice plates have identical opening areas or equivalent diameters（De） and their aspect ratios（AR） range from 1 to 6.5. Planar particle image velocimetry（PIV） is used to measure the velocity field at the same Reynolds number of Re = 5 × 10^4,where Re = Ue De/ν with Ue being the exit bulk velocity and ν the kinematic viscosity of fluid. The mean and turbulent velocity fields of all the five jets are compared in detail. Results show that the noncircular jets can enhance the entrainment rate, reflected by the higher acceleration rates of mean velocity decay and spread, shorten the length of the unmixed core,expedite the increase of turbulent intensity compared with the circular counterpart shortened unmixed core, and increase turbulent intensity comparing to the circular counterpart. Among the five jets, the rectangular jet（AR = 6.5） produces the greatest decay rate of the near-field mean velocity, postpones the position at which the 鈥榓xis-switching鈥檖henomenon occurs. This supports that axis switching phenomenon strongly depends on jet initial conditions. In addition, the hump in the centerline variation of the turbulence intensity is observed in the rectangular and triangular jets, but not in the circular jet, nor in diamond jet nor in notched-rectangular jet.

Experimental and numerical investigation of inclined air/SF_6 interface instability under shock wave

The shock tube experiments of inclined air/SF6 interface instability under the shock wave with the Mach numbers 1.23 and 1.41 are conducted. The numerical simulation is done with the parallel algorithm and the multi-viscous-fluid and turbulence （MVFT） code of the large-eddy simulation （LES）. The developing process of the interface accelerated by the shock wave is reproduced by the simulations. The complex wave structures, e.g., the propagation, refraction, and reflection of the shock wave, are clearly revealed in the flows. The simulated evolving images of the interface are consistent with the experimental ones. The simulated width of the turbulent mixing zone （TMZ） and the displacements of the bubble and the spike also agree well with the experimental data. Also, the reliability and effectiveness of the MVFT in simulating the problem of interface instability are validated. The more energies are injected into the TMZ when the shock wave has a larger Mach number. Therefore, the perturbed interface develops faster.

Study on the influences of interaction behaviors between multiple combustion-gas jets on expansion characteristics of Taylor cavities

The purpose of this study is to investigate means of controlling the interior ballistic stability of a bulk-loaded propellant gun（BLPG）.Experiments on the interaction of twin combustion gas jets and liquid medium in a cylindrical stepped-wall combustion chamber are conducted in detail to obtain time series processes of jet expansion,and a numerical simulation under the same working conditions is also conducted to verify the reliability of the numerical method by comparing numerical results and experimental results.From this,numerical simulations on mutual interference and expansion characteristics of multiple combustion gas jets（four,six,and eight jets） in liquid medium are carried out,and the distribution characteristic of pressure,velocity,temperature,and evolutionary processes of Taylor cavities and streamlines of jet flow Held are obtained in detail.The results of numerical simulations show that when different numbers of combustion gas jets expand in liquid medium,there are two different types of vortices in the jet flow field,including corner vortices of liquid phase near the step and backflow vortices of gas phase within Taylor cavities.Because of these two types of vortices,the radial expansion characteristic of the jets is increased,while changing numbers of combustion gas jets can restrain Kelvin-Helmholtz instability to a certain degree in jet expansion processes,which can at last realize the goal of controlling the interior ballistic stability of a BLPG.The optimum method for both suppressing Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and promoting radial expansion of Taylor cavities can be determined by analyzing the change of characteristic parameters in a jet flow field.

Effects of the Reynolds number on a scale-similarity model of Lagrangian velocity correlations in isotropic turbulent flows

A scale-similarity model of a two-point two-time Lagrangian velocity correlation(LVC) was originally developed for the relative dispersion of tracer particles in isotropic turbulent flows(HE, G. W., JIN, G. D., and ZHAO, X. Scale-similarity model for Lagrangian velocity correlations in isotropic and stationary turbulence. Physical Review E, 80, 066313(2009)). The model can be expressed as a two-point Eulerian space correlation and the dispersion velocity V. The dispersion velocity denotes the rate at which one moving particle departs from another fixed particle. This paper numerically validates the robustness of the scale-similarity model at high Taylor micro-scale Reynolds numbers up to 373, which are much higher than the original values(R_λ = 66, 102). The effect of the Reynolds number on the dispersion velocity in the scale-similarity model is carefully investigated. The results show that the scale-similarity model is more accurate at higher Reynolds numbers because the two-point Lagrangian velocity correlations with different initial spatial separations collapse into a universal form compared with a combination of the initial separation and the temporal separation via the dispersion velocity.Moreover, the dispersion velocity V normalized by the Kolmogorov velocity V_η ≡ η/τ_η in which η and τ_η are the Kolmogorov space and time scales, respectively, scales with the Reynolds number R_λ as V/V_η ∝ R_λ^(1.39) obtained from the numerical data.

Longshore Current on an Equilibrium Beach

Natural beaches tend to be concave-up rather than planar and are reasonable to be modeled by an equilibrium beach profile. A governing equation for longshore current on an equilibrium beach is derived and its analytical solution is given in this paper. Through comparisons of the present solution and field data of longshore current for a step-type beach, the present solution is found to have fairly agreeable prediction to longshore current inside the surf zone. The effects of the shape of a concave-up beach and turbulent mixing stress on longshore current inside the surf zone are discussed in the present paper.

Modelling of pressure-strain correlation in compressible turbulent flow

Previous studies carried out in the early 1990s conjectured that the main compressible effects could be associated with the dilatational effects of velocity fluctuation. Later, it was shown that the main compressibility effect came from the reduced pressure-strain term due to reduced pressure fluctuations. Although better understanding of the compressible turbulence is generally achieved with the increased DNS and experimental research effort, there are still some discrepancies among these recent findings. Analysis of the DNS and experimental data suggests that some of the discrepancies are apparent if the compressible effect is related to the turbulent Mach number, Mt. From the comparison of two classes of compressible flow, homogenous shear flow and inhomogeneous shear flow （mixing layer）, we found that the effect of compressibility on both classes of shear flow can be characterized in three categories corresponding to three regions of turbulent Mach numbers： the low-Mr, the moderate-Mr and high-Mr regions. In these three regions the effect of compressibility on the growth rate of the turbulent mixing layer thickness is rather different. A simple approach to the reduced pressure-strain effect may not necessarily reduce the mixing-layer growth rate, and may even cause an increase in the growth rate. The present work develops a new second-moment model for the compressible turbulence through the introduction of some blending functions of Mt to account for the compressibility effects on the flow. The model has been successfully applied to the compressible mixing layers.

Laboratory simulation of the influence of geothermal heating on the interior ocean

This study, using laboratory experiments and scaling analysis, evaluates the influence of geothermal heating on global oceanic circulation. Upon a well-developed large-scale convective flow, an additional heat flux perturbation 5F/F is employed. The increments of flow and thermal properties, including eddy diffusivity K7, flow velocity Vand bottom temperature Tb, are found to be independent of the applied heat flux F. Together with the scaling analysis of convective flow at different configurations, where the flow is thermally driven in the relatively low or extremely high turbulent thermal convections or the horizontal convection, the variances of flow properties, 6KT/KTand 6V/V, are found to be close to 0.5% and 0.75% at 5F/F=2%. This means that the small heat flux perturbation plays a negligible role in the global convective flow. However, 6Tb/ATis found to be 1.5% at 8F/F=2%, which would have a significant effect in the local region. The results might provide a clue to understanding the influence of geothermal heating on global oceanic circulation. It is expected that geothermal heating will contribute less than 1% in turbulent mixing and volume flux to global oceanic circulation, so its influence can be negligible in this situation. However, when it comes to the local environment, the influence of geothermal heating cannot be ignored. For example, temperature increases of about 0.5℃ with geothermal heating would have a significant effect on the physical environments within the benthic boundary layer.

On the role of wave breaking in ocean dynamics under typhoon Matsa in the Bohai Sea,China

The role of wave breaking(WB) in the ocean dynamics in the Bohai Sea,China under typhoon condition is systematically investigated utilizing a coupled wave-current model.The influences of WB on ocean dynamics and processes(mixing coefficient,temperature,mixed layer depth,and current) during the entire typhoon period(including the pre-typhoon,during-typhoon and after-typhoon stages) are comprehensively detected and discussed.Experimental results show that WB greatly enhances the turbulent mixing at about top 10 m depth under typhoon condition,the increase can be up to 10 times that of the normal weather.At the same time,WB generally strengthens the sea surface cooling by ~1.2°C at the during-typhoon stage,about 3 times that in normal weather.The mixed layer depth,is rapidly increased by ~1.6–3.6 m during typhoon due to WB,particularly,the deepening is stronger in the region from 120.5°E to 121.0°E on account of close to the typhoon eye.In addition,WB renders the current speed more uniformly within the entire depth in the Bohai Sea,the change in speed is ~0.2 m/s,whereas the alternation in current vector is generally opposite to the wind direction except for the typhoon eye region,reflecting that WB has an inhibitory effect on the typhoon-forced current change.The effects of WB on vertical mixing coefficient response to the typhoon rapidly,while the impacts of WB on temperature,and mixed layer depth present hysteretic responses to typhoon.Finally,the mechanisms and distribution characteristics of WB-induced mixing and tidal mixing are compared under typhoon condition.