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Normal mode decomposition in direct numerical simulations of rotating-stratified turbulence

Abstract:

In the presence of solid-body rotation and density stratification, turbulent flows may exhibit an inverse as well as a direct cascade. We investigate the role of turbulence and waves in these energy cascades, focusing on the inverse cascade. This is done through a normal mode decomposition of the dynamical fields in a set of direct numerical simulations in terms of inertia-gravity waves and vortical modes. In agreement with theoretical arguments, we find that the vortical modes dominate the inverse cascade of energy.