U.S.-U.K. Cooperative Research: Turbulence and Mixing at Density Interfaces

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This one year award will support U.S.-U.K. cooperative research in fluid mechanics between Harindra Fernando of Arizona State University and Julian C. R. Hunt of the University of Cambridge. The objective of their research is an investigation of turbulence within and near density interfaces. The theoretical and numerical work conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the British Meteorological Office will be complemented by laboratory experiments at Arizona State University. Turbulent flow configurations are replete in nature, and turbulent mixing plays a dominant role in heat and mass balances in oceans and the atmosphere. The proposed research will study turbulence when it is subjected to (1) differential turbulent forcing from contiguous turbulent layers of unequal intensities and (2) velocity shear. The results of the research will advance understanding of turbulent mixing across environmental density interfaces and enhance capabilities for parameterization of sub-grid scale processes in oceanic and atmospheric General Circulation Models.