Transition to geostrophic turbulence in the laboratory, and as a paradigm in atmospheres and oceans

Journal article

Geostrophic turbulence has become a classical paradigm for understanding a wide variety of natural systems, including the large- and meso-scale circulation in the atmosphere and oceans of the Earth. In this paper, we review the fundamental basis of the theory of 2D and geostrophic turbulence, with reference to experimental investigations of fluid motion in the laboratory, numerical models and observational studies of the atmosphere and oceans. Attention is concentrated on the initial transiti...

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Authors: Read, P

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: SURVEYS IN GEOPHYSICS
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 265-317
• Publication date: 2001-01-01
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1013790802740
• ISSN: 0169-3298
• Language: English
• Keywords: energy cascades; baroclinic; barotropic; geostrophic turbulence; geophysical fluid dynamics; inertial ranges; instability; predictability