MULTIFRACTAL TEMPERATURE AND FLUX OF TEMPERATURE VARIANCE IN FULLY-DEVELOPED TURBULENCE

We analyse the multifractal properties of the temperature field theta and temperature variance flux chi in atmospheric turbulence, using sim ultaneous velocity V and temperature measurements in the atmosphere. T his permits us first to characterize the multifractal scaling moment f unction of the flux of temperature variance estimated as chi approxima te to (Delta theta)(2) Delta V/l. We then study the structure function scaling exponent of the temperature field directly, and compare it to the consequences of the assumption of the independence of the fluctua tions of theta and V. Up until moment orders of at least order 6, the data analysis is consistent with independence.