Centrifugal, barotropic and baroclinic instabilities of isolated ageostrophic anticyclones in the two-layer rotating shallow water model and their nonlinear saturation

2014 ◽  
Vol 762 ◽  
pp. 5-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noé Lahaye ◽  
Vladimir Zeitlin

AbstractInstabilities of isolated anticyclonic vortices in the two-layer rotating shallow water model are studied at Rossby numbers up to two, with the main goal to understand the interplay between the classical centrifugal instability and other ageostrophic instabilities. We find that different types of instabilities with low azimuthal wavenumbers exist, and may compete. In a wide range of parameters, an asymmetric version of the standard centrifugal instability has larger growth rate than the latter. The dependence of the instabilities on the parameters of the flow, i.e. Rossby and Burger numbers, vertical shear and the ratios of the layers’ thicknesses and densities, is investigated. The zones of dominance of each instability are determined in the parameter space. Nonlinear saturation of these instabilities is then studied with the help of a high-resolution finite-volume numerical scheme, by using the unstable modes identified from the linear stability analysis as initial conditions. Differences in nonlinear development of the competing centrifugal and ageostrophic barotropic instabilities are evidenced. A nonlinear mechanism of axial symmetry breaking during the saturation of the centrifugal instability is displayed.

Author(s):  
Vladimir Zeitlin

The derivation of rotating shallow-water equations by vertical averaging and columnar motion hypothesis is repeated without supposing horizontal homogeneity of density/potential temperature. The so-called thermal rotating shallow-water model arises as the result. The model turns to be equivalent to gas dynamics with a specific equation of state. It is shown that it possesses Hamiltonian structure and can be derived from a variational principle. Its solution at low Rossby numbers should obey the thermo-geostrophic equilibrium, replacing the standard geostrophic equilibrium. The wave spectrum of the model is analysed, and the appearance of a whole new class of vortex instabilities of convective type, resembling asymmetric centrifugal instability and leading to a strong mixing at nonlinear stage, is demonstrated.


2013 ◽  
Vol 716 ◽  
pp. 528-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Ribstein ◽  
Vladimir Zeitlin

AbstractWe undertake a detailed analysis of linear stability of geostrophically balanced double density fronts in the framework of the two-layer rotating shallow-water model on the $f$-plane with topography, the latter being represented by an escarpment beneath the fronts. We use the pseudospectral collocation method to identify and quantify different kinds of instabilities resulting from phase locking and resonances of frontal, Rossby, Poincaré and topographic waves. A swap in the leading long-wave instability from the classical barotropic form, resulting from the resonance of two frontal waves, to a baroclinic form, resulting from the resonance of Rossby and frontal waves, takes place with decreasing depth of the lower layer. Nonlinear development and saturation of these instabilities, and of an instability of topographic origin, resulting from the resonance of frontal and topographic waves, are studied and compared with the help of a new-generation well-balanced finite-volume code for multilayer rotating shallow-water equations. The results of the saturation for different instabilities are shown to produce very different secondary coherent structures. The influence of the topography on these processes is highlighted.


2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (03) ◽  
pp. 125-140
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Liut ◽  
Kenneth M. Weems ◽  
Tin-Guen Yen

A quasi-three-dimensional hydrodynamic model is presented to simulate shallow water phenomena. The method is based on a finite-volume approach designed to solve shallow water equations in the time domain. The nonlinearities of the governing equations are considered. The methodology can be used to compute green water effects on a variety of platforms with six-degrees-of-freedom motions. Different boundary and initial conditions can be applied for multiple types of moving platforms, like a ship's deck, tanks, etc. Comparisons with experimental data are discussed. The shallow water model has been integrated with the Large Amplitude Motions Program to compute the effects of green water flow over decks within a time-domain simulation of ship motions in waves. Results associated to this implementation are presented.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
LMD

We show how the two-layer moist-convective rotating shallow water model (mcRSW), which proved to be a simple and robust tool for studying effects of moist convection on large-scale atmospheric motions, can be improved by including, in addition to the water vapour, precipitable water, and the effects of vaporisation, entrainment, and precipitation. Thus improved mcRSW becomes cloud-resolving. It is applied, as an illustration, to model the development of instabilities of tropical cyclone-like vortices.


Author(s):  
Da Yang

AbstractRandomly distributed convective storms can self-aggregate in the absence of large-scale forcings. Here we present a 1D shallow water model to study the convective self-aggregation. This model simulates the dynamics of the planetary boundary layer and represents convection as a triggered process. Once triggered, convection lasts for finite time and occupies finite length. We show that the model can successfully simulate self-aggregation, and that the results are robust to a wide range of parameter values. In the simulations, convection excites gravity waves. The gravity waves then form a standing wave pattern, separating the domain into convectively active and inactive regions. We analyze the available potential energy (APE) budget and show that convection generates APE, providing energy for self-aggregation. By performing dimensional analysis, we develop a scaling theory for the size of convective aggregation, which is set by the gravity wave speed, damping timescale, and number density of convective storms. This paper provides a simple modeling framework to further study convective self-aggregation.


Author(s):  
Vladimir Zeitlin

In this chapter, one- and two-layer versions of the rotating shallow-water model on the tangent plane to the rotating, and on the whole rotating sphere, are derived from primitive equations by vertical averaging and columnar motion (mean-field) hypothesis. Main properties of the models including conservation laws and wave-vortex dichotomy are established. Potential vorticity conservation is derived, and the properties of inertia–gravity waves are exhibited. The model is then reformulated in Lagrangian coordinates, variational principles for its one- and two-layer version are established, and conservation laws are reinterpreted in these terms.


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