Probability Density Functions of Large-Scale Turbulence in the Ocean

Stefan G. Llewellyn Smith; Sarah T. Gille

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.5249

Probability Density Functions of Large-Scale Turbulence in the Ocean

Stefan G. Llewellyn Smith and Sarah T. Gille

Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 5249 – Published 7 December 1998

Abstract

Probability density functions (pdfs) of surface velocity and surface velocity gradients in the ocean are calculated using altimetric data from the Topex/Poseidon satellite. These provide information about turbulence in a high-Reynolds-number geophysical flow. Both velocity pdfs and velocity gradient pdfs calculated over small regions are Gaussian but have more exponential shapes as the size of the region increases. We develop a simple explanation for the non-Gaussianity of velocity pdfs based on the inhomogeneity of eddy kinetic energy in the ocean.

Received 29 July 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.5249

Authors & Affiliations

Stefan G. Llewellyn Smith^*

Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW, United Kingdom

Sarah T. Gille^†

School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom

^*Electronic address: sgls1@damtp.cam.ac.uk.
^†Electronic address: sgille@uci.edu. Present address: Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3100.