David S. Nolan - Vortex Sheets, Vortex Rings, and A Mesocyclone

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Vortex Sheets, Vortex Rings, and a Mesocyclone

David S. Nolan
Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
This work was supported by the Department of Energy

and the University of Miami.
I. What in the world is this about?

II. Three-dimensional vortex methods
III. Simulations of mesocyclone formation
IV. Future work
I. Motivation
Thunderstorm rotation and storm splitting are known to be caused
by the tilting of low-level, horizontal vortex lines by convective updrafts.
What is the simplest possible representation of this process?

Perhaps, an updraft interacting with a low-level shear zone:
z
w(x,y,z)
U(z)
x
Simplifying further, lets use = constant and = 0 .

And, lets represent the flow using the simplest objects possible.
The updraft becomes a column of vortex rings, and the shear zone
becomes a collection of vortex sheets:
z
y
... and lets simulate these things using vortex methods:

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II. Three Dimensional Vortex Methods

A purely Lagrangian approach to simulating fluid dynamics
In three dimensions, each vortex filament is represented by a chain of segments:
>0
=0
The vorticity distribution around the segment remains fixed in time;
Accuracy is achieved with sufficient, overlapping cores.
To maintain accuracy, each segment must be shorter than it is wide.
As vortex lines stretch, new elements are added at the midpoints.
In general, the velocity field can be inverted from the vorticity,

( x x' ) ( x' )
- dx'
u ( x ) = = -----------------------------------3
3
4 x x'
R
so that each endpoint moves according to the velocity induced by all the segments:
c
( x j x ) ( x j ) x j x
1
----------------------------------------- f ---------------u(x) = j
3

c
4 j
xj x
f ( r ) regularizes the singularity, and is related to the vorticity distribution around
the segments.
Does this really work?

A large body of literature in mathematical fluid dynamics says: yes!
Initial Conditions for Unidirectional Shear

3D Vortex Lines at t=0 elements=731
Vel. Slice at y=0, t=0 maxvec=11.2393

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Low-level shear: 10 ms-1 over 1 km depth;
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Updraft: 11 ms-1.
Free-slip, impermeable lower boundary (w = 0).

Doubly-periodic in x and y, with a period of 8 km.
Boundary conditions are enforced using image vortices.
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How does the flow evolve?

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One trick: All vortex rings

are held fixed
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Counter-rotating updrafts are generated:

Velocity at z=1500 at t=360 max [vx,vy]=6.38 vz=1.41 to 6.98 int=0.839
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(4 sheets, more elements)

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Vort. z=750 t=360 maxvec=1.4e02 vz=6.0e03 to 6.0e03 int=1.2e03
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Now, what if we rotate the vortex sheets with height?

Hodograph
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Now the lifting and stretching of the vortex lines is asymmetric....

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Now, the updrafts and the vortices are asymmetric!

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Some Conclusions...
The formation of rotating updrafts can be simulated

with inviscid, incompressible fluid flow and 3-D vortex methods
The rotation with height of the low-level shear vector is sufficient to generate
stronger updrafts and stronger low-level vorticity in one of the mesocyclones
Tornado formation ... ?
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Vortex Sheets, Vortex Rings, and a Mesocyclone

This work was supported by the Department of Energy

I. What in the world is this about?

What is the simplest possible representation of this process?

Simplifying further, lets use = constant and = 0 .

... and lets simulate these things using vortex methods:

II. Three Dimensional Vortex Methods

In general, the velocity field can be inverted from the vorticity,

f ( r ) regularizes the singularity, and is related to the vorticity distribution around

Does this really work?

Initial Conditions for Unidirectional Shear

Vel. Slice at y=0, t=0 maxvec=11.2393

Low-level shear: 10 ms-1 over 1 km depth;

Free-slip, impermeable lower boundary (w = 0).

How does the flow evolve?

3D Vortex Lines at t=180 elements=875

3D Vortex Lines at t=300 elements=979

3D Vortex Lines at t=420 elements=1083

One trick: All vortex rings

Counter-rotating updrafts are generated:

(4 sheets, more elements)

Velocity at z=1500 at t=480 max [vx,vy]=7.11 vz=1.43 to 6.97 int=0.84

Now, what if we rotate the vortex sheets with height?

3D Vortex Lines at t=0 elements=731

Now the lifting and stretching of the vortex lines is asymmetric....

3D Vortex Lines at t=180 elements=873

3D Vortex Lines at t=300 elements=990

3D Vortex Lines at t=420 elements=1105

Now, the updrafts and the vortices are asymmetric!

Velocity at z=1500 at t=480 max [vx,vy]=7.08 vz=1.39 to 7.98 int=0.938

The formation of rotating updrafts can be simulated

Tornado formation ... ?

3D Vortex Lines at t=480 elements=2931

3D Vortex Lines at t=480 elements=3250

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