Nonlinear vortex dynamics in open nonequilibrium systems with bulk mass loss and a generation mechanism for tornadoes and typhoons

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063776110060129· OSTI ID:21451198

Pashitskii, E. A., E-mail: [e-mail].u ^[1]

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1. National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute of Physics (Ukraine)

Based on a general model of nonlinear vortex dynamics in open thermodynamically nonequilibrium systems with bulk or surface mass losses, an analysis is presented of the mechanism of generation of violent atmospheric vortices (tornadoes, typhoons, cyclones) associated with the formation of deep cloud systems by intense condensation of water vapor from moist air cooled below the dew point. Simple particular solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations are found that describe both axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric incompressible vortex motions involving radial and vertical flows with viscous dissipation vanishing identically everywhere except for a thin shear layer at the boundary of the condensation region. It is shown that the nonlinear convective and local Coriolis forces generated by radial inflow in the presence of a background vorticity due to a global Coriolis force (the Earth's rotation) accelerate the solid-body rotation in the vortex core either exponentially or in a nonlinear regime of finite-time blow-up. Due to updrafts, such a vortex is characterized by a strong helicity. This mechanism explains a number of observed properties and characteristics of the structure and evolution of tornadoes and typhoons. Upper estimates are found for the kinetic energies of violent atmospheric vortices. It is shown that increase in rotational kinetic energy of atmospheric vortices with constant vortex-core radii is consistent with energy and momentum conservation, because radial inflow continually supplies the required amount of rotational kinetic energy drawn from the ambient atmosphere to an open system.

• OSTI ID: 21451198
• Journal Information: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Vol. 110, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1134/S1063776110060129; Copyright (c) 2010 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; ISSN 1063-7761
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
58 GEOSCIENCES
ATMOSPHERES
AXIAL SYMMETRY
CLOUDS
CORIOLIS FORCE
DEW POINT
EARTH PLANET
EVOLUTION
HELICITY
KINETIC ENERGY
LAYERS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
ROTATION
SHEAR
TORNADOES
VORTICES
WATER VAPOR
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ENERGY
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
MOTION
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETS
STORMS
SYMMETRY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
VAPORS