Transport and mixing in kinematic and dynamically consistent flows

Abstract

The interplay between dynamics and transport in two-dimensional flows is examined by comparing the transport and mixing in a kinematic flow in which the velocity field is imposed as a given function of time with that in an analogous dynamically consistent flow in which the advected vorticity field controls the flow evolution. In both cases the variation of the transport and mixing behavior with a parameter 4E governing the strength of the time dependence is considered. It is shown that dynamical consistency has the effect of (i) postponing the breaking of a central transport barrier as E increases and (ii) removing the property of the kinematic flow that, for a large range Of ε, a weakly permeable central barrier persists. The first effect is associated with the development of a strong vorticity gradient and the associated jet along the central transport barrier. The second effect is associated with the fact that, in the dynamically consistent flow, the breaking of the central barrier is accompanied by a drastic change in the vorticity field and hence in the structure of the flow. The relation between the vorticity field and transport barriers is further examined using a range of simple kinematic and dynamically consistent models. Implications for formulation of predictive models that represent the interactions between dynamics, transport, and mixing (and might be suggested as a basis for parameterizing eddies in flows that form multiple jets) are discussed. © 2007 American Meteorological Society.