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Recent measurements of the skewness of the derivative of the temperature fluctuation θ, implying the breakdown of local isotropy even in high Reynolds number shear flows, are examined. Using the temperature signal in a slightly heated axisymmetric jet, a detailed quantitative analysis is made of the suggestion that the observed presence of a well-defined large-scale pattern of the temperature signal in these flows is responsible for this breakdown. A selective ensemble averaging technique is used for separating this pattern from fluctuations superposed on it. The technique is extended to extract the large-scale patterns in simultaneously measured axial (u), radial (v) velocity fluctuations, and the products uv, uθ and vθ, so that it is possible to separate contributions of these patterns from those of the superposed fluctuations to several important turbulent quantities. The mean shape of the patterns, their degree of anisotropy and correlation, and their contribution to turbulence intensities and Reynolds shear stress are obtained. Probability densities and spectra of these quasi-homogeneous superposed fluctuations are also obtained. Results show that the fluctuations are consistent with local isotropy and make the dominant contribution to the turbulence intensities, that the large-scale patterns are responsible for the observed skewness values of the derivative of v, and that the fluctuations may be responsible for a significant part of the turbulent momentum and heat transport, especially in the region of the jet where the turbulent energy production is substantial.

In the self-preserving region of a slightly heated turbulent plane jet, conventional isocorrelation contours of velocity and temperature fluctuations support the existence of organized large-scale structures. Temperature fronts associated with these structures were visually detected using a spanwise rake of cold wires. This method of detection was then used to condition velocity and temperature fluctuations and products of these fluctuations. Ensemble-averaged velocity vectors, constructed in the plane of main shear, suggest a topology for the organized motion in which the temperature front is identified with the diverging separatrix connecting adjacent structures on the same side of the centreline. Coherent stresses and heat fluxes are particularly significant near the diverging separatrix. Contributions by the coherent and random motions to the averaged momentum and heat transports are generally of the same order of magnitude.