DIMENSION AND INTERMITTENCY OF ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS.

Abstract

A discussion is presented on the existence of a dimensional transition separating quasi-two dimensional and quasi-three dimensional atmospheric motions, i. e. large- and small-scale dynamics. It is insisted upon the fact that no matter how this transition should occur, it would have drastic consequences for atmospheric dynamics, consequences which have not been observed in spite of many recent experiments. An alternative simpler hypothesis is proposed: that small scale structures are continuously deformed - flattened - at larger and larger scales by a scale invariant process. This continuous deformation may be characterised by defining an intermediate fractal dimension D//e//l that we call an elliptical dimension. Refs.