RESEARCH ON FLUID DYNAMICAL MODELS OF THE LARGE SCALE ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATIONS.
Abstract
The report describes three investigations in the field of hydrodynamic stability. The purpose of the experiments is to study the mechanisms which operate in the large scale circulation of the atmosphere. It is generally assumed that secondary flows in the form of baroclinic waves are the primary cause of the propagation of atmospheric disturbances. These waves must be treated as finite amplitude disturbances and accordingly the use of non-linear analysis is required to predict the properties of the waves. Past attempts at calculating finite amplitude secondary flows have not been very successful but recently Stuart and Watson have developed a method which has proved to be reliable. The computations for the case of isothermal flow between concentric rotating cylinders has been carried out using this method and one of the investigations described here is an experimental verification of the theoretical predictions. It is also shown that a logical extension of the theory requires the existence of jets and shock-like structure in the flow field and these features are demonstrated experimentally. In a second investigation it is shown strongly affected by horizontal shear. Horizontal shear has a strong stabilizing effect on baroclinic waves. The third set of experiments demonstrates the strong stabilizing action of high polymer non-Newtonian fluids. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0651046
Entities
People
- Howard A. Snyder
Organizations
- Brown University