Feature Tracking of Geophysics Simulations
This a simulation of rotating, stratified turbulence using the quasi-geostrophic
(QG) equations, performed by a new, hybrid numerical algorithm developed
by Dr. David G. Dritschel (University of Cambridge and University of Warwick).
The QG equations are commonly employed to study atmospheric and oceanic
vortex dynamics at small to intermediate scales (i.e. 100 to 1000km in
the atmosphere). The particular simulation shown here, depicting
the evolution of the conservative potential vorticity (PV) field,
emonstrates the propensity for columnar ``two-dimensional'' vortices to
break down into three-dimensional vortex ``domes'', primarily located at
the upper and lower domain boundaries (analogous to the ocean surface and
bottom); For detailed information about for simulation, please contact
Dr. David G. Dritschel.
The first simulation was performed on a 240 x 240 x 60 grid using a
combination of spectral and contour methods, and the grid resolution for
the second simulation was 120x120x60. Notably, the simulations are performed
without viscosity or hyperviscosity, but use instead contour regularization
(in each of the 60 layers) at about a tenth of the horizontal grid length.
Dissipation affects are thereby sharply reduced compared to previous numerical
algorithms. The resulting enhancement in accuracy has led to the
first clear demonstration that two-dimensionality breaks down at small
to intermediate scales in a rotating, stratified fluid.
I. Resolution: 240x240x60, 161 time steps.
Isosurface
Tracking
II. Resolution 120x120x60, 1000 timesteps.
Click below to view animations.
With
Isosurface
With
Feature Tracking
Simon Xin Wang <xswang@vizlab.rutges.edu>