No Arabic abstract
The problem of inverse statistics (statistics of distances for which the signal fluctuations are larger than a certain threshold) in differentiable signals with power law spectrum, $E(k) sim k^{-alpha}$, $3 le alpha < 5$, is discussed. We show that for these signals, with random phases, exit-distance moments follow a bi-fractal distribution. We also investigate two dimensional turbulent flows in the direct cascade regime, which display a more complex behavior. We give numerical evidences that the inverse statistics of 2d turbulent flows is described by a multi-fractal probability distribution, i.e. the statistics of laminar events is not simply captured by the exponent $alpha$ characterizing the spectrum.
We present a numerical study of two-dimensional turbulent flows in the enstrophy cascade regime, with different large-scale forcings and energy sinks. In particular, we study the statistics of more-than-differentiable velocity fluctuations by means of two recently introduced sets of statistical estimators, namely {it inverse statistics} and {it second order differences}. We show that the 2D turbulent velocity field, $bm u$, cannot be simply characterized by its spectrum behavior, $E(k) propto k^{-alpha}$. There exists a whole set of exponents associated to the non-trivial smooth fluctuations of the velocity field at all scales. We also present a numerical investigation of the temporal properties of $bm u$ measured in different spatial locations.
We present results from an ensemble of 50 runs of two-dimensional hydrodynamic turbulence with spatial resolution of 2048^2 grid points, and from an ensemble of 10 runs with 4096^2 grid points. All runs in each ensemble have random initial conditions with same initial integral scale, energy, enstrophy, and Reynolds number. When both ensemble- and time-averaged, inverse energy cascade behavior is observed, even in the absence of external mechanical forcing: the energy spectrum at scales larger than the characteristic scale of the flow follows a k^(-5/3) law, with negative flux, together with a k^(-3) law at smaller scales, and a positive flux of enstrophy. The source of energy for this behavior comes from the modal energy around the energy containing scale at t=0. The results shed some light into connections between decaying and forced turbulence, and into recent controversies in experimental studies of two-dimensional and magnetohydrodynamic turbulent flows.
The understanding of the fundamental properties of the climate system has long benefitted from the use of simple numerical models able to parsimoniously represent the essential ingredients of its processes. Here we introduce a new model for the atmosphere that is constructed by supplementing the now-classic Lorenz 96 one-dimensional lattice model with temperature-like variables. The model features an energy cycle that allows for conversion between the kinetic and potential forms and for introducing a notion of efficiency. The models evolution is controlled by two contributions - a quasi-symplectic and a gradient one, which resemble (yet not conforming to) a metriplectic structure. After investigating the linear stability of the symmetric fixed point, we perform a systematic parametric investigation that allows us to define regions in the parameters space where at steady state stationary, quasi-periodic, and chaotic motions are realised, and study how the terms responsible for defining the energy budget of the system depend on the external forcing injecting energy in the kinetic and in the potential energy reservoirs. Finally, we find preliminary evidence that the model features extensive chaos. We also introduce a more complex version of the model that is able to accommodate for multiscale dynamics and that features an energy cycle that more closely mimics the one of the Earths atmosphere.
It is shown that the Truncated Euler Equations, i.e. a finite set of ordinary differential equations for the amplitude of the large-scale modes, can correctly describe the complex transitional dynamics that occur within the turbulent regime of a confined 2D Navier-Stokes flow with bottom friction and a spatially periodic forcing. In particular, the random reversals of the large scale circulation on the turbulent background involve bifurcations of the probability distribution function of the large-scale circulation velocity that are described by the related microcanonical distribution which displays transitions from gaussian to bimodal and broken ergodicity. A minimal 13-mode model reproduces these results.
The asymptotic decay of passive scalar fields is solved analytically for the Kraichnan model, where the velocity has a short correlation time. At long times, two universality classes are found, both characterized by a distribution of the scalar -- generally non-Gaussian -- with global self-similar evolution in time. Analogous behavior is found numerically with a more realistic flow resulting from an inverse energy cascade.