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Published on: February 13, 2018
Experimental determination of zonal winds driven by tides
C Morize1, M Le Bars, P Le Gal
1Institut de Recherche sur les Phénomènes Hors Equilibre, UMR 6594, CNRS et Aix-Marseille Universités, 49 rue F. Joliot-Curie, Boîte Postale 146, 13384 Marseille Cedex 13, France.
Researchers experimentally demonstrate how tidal forcing generates zonal winds. This phenomenon, driven by the nonlinear self-interaction of inertial modes, creates intense axisymmetric flows relevant to planets and stars.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Geophysics
- Astrophysics
Background:
- Tidal forcing can influence fluid motion in rotating bodies.
- Previous theoretical work suggested nonlinear inertial modes could generate zonal flows.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first experimental evidence of zonal wind generation by tidal forcing.
- To investigate the nonlinear self-interaction of tidally forced inertial modes.
Main Methods:
- Experimental setup using a rotating deformed sphere.
- Systematic measurements of zonal flows using particle image velocimetry (PIV).
Main Results:
- Observed generation of intense axisymmetric zonal flows.
- Determined general scaling laws for zonal flow generation.
- Confirmed experimental evidence supporting theoretical predictions.
Conclusions:
- Tidal forcing can drive significant zonal winds through nonlinear inertial mode interactions.
- This mechanism is relevant for understanding atmospheric and stellar dynamics.
- Provides a generic model for geostrophic flow generation via periodic forcing.
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