Initial-condition dependence of large-scale structures in rotating turbulence

Abstract eng:
Direct numerical simulations of rotating turbulence driven by an external force are performed. In strongly rotating systems, the flow in the statistically steady state has a coherent cyclonic vortex (a Taylor column), and is two-dimensional and anisotropic. In weakly rotating systems, the flow in the statistically steady state is in the three-dimensional isotropic Kolmogorov turbulence regime. The twodimensional anisotropic flow and a three-dimensional isotropic Kolmogorov turbulence are bistable at the system’s angular velocities in a range. The transitions between the two flow regimes are discontinuous, when the angular velocity is increased or decreased. This hysteretic behavior can be understood by stability of the cyclonic vortex.

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