The Application of Statistical Turbulence Theory to Convective Instabilities.
Abstract
Statistical turbulence theories have been used effectively to characterize spectral density functions in fluid turbulence, and in turbulent plasmas, magnetic fields, and passive scalars in turbulent fluids. This report reviews the applications to convective instabilities of the turbulence theories generalized for ionospheric applications. These instabilities are believed to be the dominant structuring mechanism in equatorial spread F, artificial barium clouds, and in high altitude nuclear plumes at late times. Emphasized is the ramifications of the cross field anisotropy unique to convective instabilities, which have not been treated previously. We show that the limiting form of the one-dimensional spectral density functions measured perpendicular to the E x B drift direction is proportional to i/k where k is the wave number.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA183492
Entities
People
- C. L. Rino
Organizations
- SRI International