Generation of shear flows and vortices in rotating anelastic convection

Currie, Laura K.; Tobias, Steven M.

doi:10.1103/physrevfluids.5.073501

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 73 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is further supported in the review of Showman et al (2018), where it is stated that anelastic models provide similar flow features to the Boussinesq approach in the case of Saturn models. The very recent study of Currie & Tobias (2020), in a rotating plane layer, has shown that large coherent structures may be disrupted in the upper layers with the effect of stratification but, as concluded in Currie & Tobias (2020), it remains unclear whether the coherence is destroyed when the global Rossby number of the models is small, as is the case for our current models (see Table 1).…”

Section: Data Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 67%

Deep model simulation of polar vortices in gas giant atmospheres

García

Chambers

Watts

2020

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Cassini and Juno probes have revealed large coherent cyclonic vortices in the polar regions of Saturn and Jupiter, a dramatic contrast from the east-west banded jet structure seen at lower latitudes. Debate has centered on whether the jets are shallow, or extend to greater depths in the planetary envelope. Recent experiments and observations have demonstrated the relevance of deep convection models to a successful explanation of jet structure, and cyclonic coherent vortices away from the polar regions have been simulated recently including an additional stratified shallow layer. Here we present new convective models able to produce long-lived polar vortices. Using simulation parameters relevant for giant planet atmospheres we find flow regimes of geostrophic turbulence (GT) in agreement with rotating convection theory. The formation of large scale coherent structures occurs via three-dimensional upscale energy transfers. Our simulations generate polar characteristics qualitatively similar to those seen by Juno and Cassini: they match the structure of cyclonic vortices seen on Jupiter; or can account for the existence of a strong polar vortex extending downwards to lower latitudes with a marked spiral morphology, and the hexagonal pattern seen on Saturn. Our findings indicate that these vortices can be generated deep in the planetary interior. A transition differentiating these two polar flows regimes is described, interpreted in terms of force balances and compared with shallow atmospheric models characterising polar vortex dynamics in giant planets. In addition, heat transport properties are investigated, confirming recent scaling laws obtained with reduced models of GT.

show abstract

Section: Data Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 67%

Deep model simulation of polar vortices in gas giant atmospheres

García

Chambers

Watts

2020

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…First, the heat fluxes used in these simulations (Chan, 2007;Käpylä et al, 2011) are larger than Jupiter's internal heat flux by several magnitudes. Second, in previous simulations on rapidly rotating convection only shear (Novi et al, 2019;Currie & Tobias, 2020) or large-scale cyclones (Chan & Mayr, 2013) can be found in low latitudes. The present study is motivated by the following questions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Spontaneous Generated Convective Anticyclones in Low Latitude --- A Model for the Great Red Spot

Cai

Chan

Chow

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Great Red Spot at about latitude 22oS of Jupiter has been observed for hundreds of years, yet the driving mechanism on the formation of this giant anticyclone still remains unclear. Two scenarios were proposed to explain its formation. One is a shallow model suggesting that it might be a weather feature formed through a merging process of small shallow storms generated by moist convection, while the other is a deep model suggesting that it might be a deeply rooted anticyclone powered by the internal heat of Jupiter. In this work, we present numerical simulations showing that the Great Red Spot could be naturally generated in a deep rotating turbulent flow and survive for a long time, when the convective Rossby number is smaller than a certain critical value. From this critical value, we predict that the Great Red Spot extends at least about 500 kilometers deep into the Jovian atmosphere. Our results demonstrate that the Great Red Spot is likely to be a feature deep-seated in the Jovian atmosphere.

show abstract

“…First, the heat fluxes used in these simulations (Chan 2007;Käpylä et al 2011) are larger than Jupiter's internal heat flux by several magnitudes. Second, in previous simulations on rapidly rotating convection only shear (Novi et al 2019;Currie & Tobias 2020) or large-scale cyclones (Chan & Mayr 2013) can be found in low latitudes. The present study is motivated by the following questions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Spontaneous Generated Convective Anticyclones in Low Latitude -- A Model for the Great Red Spot

Cai,

Chan,

Chow

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Great Red Spot at about latitude 22 • S of Jupiter has been observed for hundreds of years, yet the driving mechanism on the formation of this giant anticyclone still remains unclear. Two scenarios were proposed to explain its formation. One is a shallow model suggesting that it might be a weather feature formed through a merging process of small shallow storms generated by moist convection, while the other is a deep model suggesting that it might be a deeply rooted anticyclone powered by the internal heat of Jupiter. In this work, we present numerical simulations showing that the Great Red Spot could be naturally generated in a deep rotating turbulent flow and survive for a long time, when the convective Rossby number is smaller than a certain critical value. From this critical value, we predict that the Great Red Spot extends at least about 500 kilometers deep into the Jovian atmosphere. Our results demonstrate that the Great Red Spot is likely to be a feature deep-seated in the Jovian atmosphere.

show abstract

Generation of shear flows and vortices in rotating anelastic convection

Abstract: This is a repository copy of Generation of shear flows and vortices in rotating anelastic convection.

Cited by 6 publications

References 73 publications

Deep model simulation of polar vortices in gas giant atmospheres

Deep model simulation of polar vortices in gas giant atmospheres

Spontaneous Generated Convective Anticyclones in Low Latitude --- A Model for the Great Red Spot

Spontaneous Generated Convective Anticyclones in Low Latitude -- A Model for the Great Red Spot

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About