Upwelling flow dynamics in long canyons at low Rossby number

Low Rossby limiting dynamics for stably stratified flow with finite Froude number

In this paper, we explore the strong rotation limit of the rotating and stratified Boussinesq equations with periodic boundary conditions when the stratification is order 1 ([Rossby number] Ro = !, [Froude number] Fr= O(1), as !→ 0). Using the same framework of Embid & Majda (Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., vol. 87, 1998, p. 1), we show that the slow dynamics decouples from the fast. Furthermor...

Heat transport in low-Rossby-number Rayleigh-Bénard convection.

We demonstrate, via simulations of asymptotically reduced equations describing rotationally constrained Rayleigh-Bénard convection, that the efficiency of turbulent motion in the fluid bulk limits overall heat transport and determines the scaling of the nondimensional Nusselt number Nu with the Rayleigh number Ra, the Ekman number E, and the Prandtl number σ. For E << 1 inviscid scaling theory ...

Rossby number expansions, slaving principles, and balance dynamics

We consider the problem of constructing balance dynamics for rapidly rotating fluid systems. It is argued that the conventional Rossby number expansion-namely expanding all variables in a series in Rossby numberis secular for all but the simplest flows. In particular, the higher-order terms in the expansion grow exponentially on average, and for moderate values of the Rossby number the expansio...

Abyssal Canyons and Mixing by Low-Frequency Flow

The role canyons play in abyssal mixing is discussed, with a focus on the issue of low-frequency flow over sills and associated overturning instability as opposed to tidally generated mixing. Flow through several deep canyons on the mid-ocean ridge is reviewed and some global consequences are discussed.

Nonlinear Balance and Potential Vorticity Thinking at Large Rossby Number