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Gyre turbulence: Anomalous dissipation in a two-dimensional ocean model
Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, L051801 – Published 3 May, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.9.L051801
Abstract
The exploration of a two-dimensional wind-driven ocean model with no-slip boundaries reveals the existence of a turbulent asymptotic regime where energy dissipation becomes independent of fluid viscosity. This asymptotic flow represents an out-of-equilibrium state, characterized by a vigorous two-dimensional vortex gas superimposed onto a western-intensified gyre. The properties of the vortex gas are elucidated through scaling analysis for detached Prandtl boundary layers, providing a rationalization for the observed anomalous dissipation. The asymptotic regime demonstrates that boundary instabilities alone can be strong enough to evacuate wind-injected energy from the large-scale oceanic circulation.
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