Dynamical Chaos and Lateral Transport of a Passive Scalar in the Annular Reverse Jet Flow

Abstract

The transition to dynamical chaos and the related lateral (cross-flow) transport of a passive scalar in the reverse annular jet flow generating two chains of wave-vortex structures are studied. The quasi-geostrophic equations for the barotropic (quasi-two-dimensional) flow written in polar coordinates with allowance for the beta-effect and external friction are solved numerically using a pseudospectral method. The critical parameters of the equilibrium flow with a complex “two-hump” azimuth velocity profile facilitating a faster transition to the complex dynamics are determined. Two regular multiharmonic regimes of wave generation are revealed with increasing flow supercriticality before the onset of Eulerian chaos. The occurrence of the complex flow dynamics is confirmed by a direct calculation of the largest Lyapunov exponent. The evolution of streamline images is analyzed by making video, thereby chains with single and composite structures are distinguished. The wavenumber-frequency spectra confirming the possibility of chaotic transport of the passive scalar are drawn for the basic regimes of wave generation. The power law exponents for the azimuth particle displacement and their variance, which proved the occurrence of the anomalous azimuth transport of the passive scalar, are determined. Lagrangian chaos is studied by computing the finite-time Lyapunov exponent and its distribution function. The internal chain (with respect to the annulus center) is found to be totally subject to Lagrangian chaos, while only the external chain boundary is chaotic. It is revealed that the cross-flow transport occurs only in the regime of Eulerian dynamical chaos, since there exists a barrier to it in the multiharmonic regimes. The images of fluid particles confirming the presence of lateral transport are obtained and their quantitative characteristics are determined.