Waves and turbulence: Their cooperative role in structure formation

David G. Dritschel*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Fluids and plasmas in a near dissipationless regime commonly exhibit well-defined, coherent structures. We observe these directly in weather patterns, in the zonal jets on Jupiter and the Great Red Spot, in sunspots and magnetic coronal loops, etc. In fact, observations of coherent structures are so widespread that we seldom question why. Such fluids and plasmas are very large order dynamical systems, and therefore appear to have ample freedom to explore near endless states or configurations. Why are so many of these structured - or why do these systems prefer to be in a structured state? In molecular dynamics, by contrast, despite the large numbers of degrees of freedom, structured states are extremely improbable. In this paper, we explore what makes fluids in particular favour structured states.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIUTAM Symposium on Waves in Fluids 2012: Effects of Nonlinearity, Rotation, Stratification and Dissipation
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of a meeting held 18-22 June 2012, Moscow, Russia.
EditorsYuri Chashechkin
PublisherElsevier Procedia
Pages85-93
Number of pages9
Volume8
ISBN (Print)9781627485043
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013
EventIUTAM Symposium on Waves in Fluids: Effects of Nonlinearity, Rotation, Stratification and Dissipation - Moscow, Russian Federation
Duration: 18 Jun 201222 Jun 2012

Publication series

NameProcedia IUTAM

Conference

ConferenceIUTAM Symposium on Waves in Fluids: Effects of Nonlinearity, Rotation, Stratification and Dissipation
Country/TerritoryRussian Federation
CityMoscow
Period18/06/1222/06/12

Keywords

  • Coherent structures
  • Turbulence
  • Waves

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Waves and turbulence: Their cooperative role in structure formation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this