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Mixing in simple models for turbulent diffusion
Author(s) -
Tabak Esteban G.,
Tal Fabio A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
communications on pure and applied mathematics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.12
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1097-0312
pISSN - 0010-3640
DOI - 10.1002/cpa.20012
Subject(s) - mixing (physics) , turbulence , measure (data warehouse) , turbulent diffusion , statistical physics , instability , diffusion , simple (philosophy) , mechanics , mathematics , physics , computer science , thermodynamics , data mining , philosophy , epistemology , quantum mechanics
Simple turbulent diffusive models are proposed as conceptual tools for exploring scenarios involving mixing of stratified flows. Applications include the dynamics of the ocean's top mixed layer, shear instability, breaking internal waves, and turbulent stirring of sharp interfaces. A novel measure of mixing is developed, based on arguments from statistical physics. It is shown that, under turbulent diffusion, this measure grows, and that there are strong indications that, under stirring, flows tend to settle down at a maximum of this measure, subject to global dynamical constraints. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.