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Forward-in-time Differencing for Fluids: Simulation of Geophysical Turbulence

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Book cover Turbulent Flow Computation

Part of the book series: Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications ((FMIA,volume 66))

Abstract

The Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are essentially incompressible, highly turbulent fluids. Herein, we demonstrate that nonoscillatory forward-in-time (NFT) methods can be efficiently utilized to accurately simulate a broad range of flows in these fluids. NFT methods contrast with the more traditional centered-in-time-and-space approach that underlies the bulk of computational experience in the meteorological community. We challenge the common misconception that NFT schemes are overly diffusive and therefore inadequate for high Reynolds number flow simulations, and document their numerous benefits. In particular, we show that, in the absence of an explicit subgrid-scale turbulence model, NFT methods offer means of implicit subgrid-scale modeling that can be quite effective in assuring a quality large-eddy-simulation of high Reynolds number flows. The latter is especially important where complications such as large span of scales, density stratification, planetary rotation, inhomogeneity of the lower boundary, etc., make explicit modeling of subgrid-scale motions difficult. Theoretical discussions are illustrated with examples of meteorological flows that address the range of applications from micro turbulence to climate.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado, 80307-3000, USA

    Piotr K. Smolarkiewicz

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50010, USA

    Joseph. M. Prusa

Authors
  1. Piotr K. Smolarkiewicz
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  2. Joseph. M. Prusa
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK

    D. Drikakis

  2. Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    B.J. Geurts

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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Smolarkiewicz, P.K., Prusa, J.M. (2002). Forward-in-time Differencing for Fluids: Simulation of Geophysical Turbulence. In: Drikakis, D., Geurts, B. (eds) Turbulent Flow Computation. Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 66. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48421-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48421-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-0523-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48421-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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