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A numerical study of the descent of a vortex pair in a stably stratified atmosphere

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

F. M. Hill
F. M. Hill
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, London
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Abstract

Numerical methods are used to investigate the motion of a horizontal vortex pair through a stably stratified atmosphere. The vortices carry with them a mass of fluid whose density differs from that of the air through which it descends, and the surface of this accompanying fluid becomes a vortex sheet, which is modelled by a set of discrete line vortices.

It is shown that, at first, the vortex pair slows down with the shape of the envelope of the accompanying fluid remaining constant. Later, vorticity concentrates at the rear, initiating detrainment and causing a downward acceleration of the vortex pair. Throughout the motion, the vortices approach each other.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 71 , Issue 1 , 9 September 1975 , pp. 1 - 13
Copyright
© 1975 Cambridge University Press

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References

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