St. Thoroddsen et Cw. Vanatta, BAROCLINIC GENERATION OF VORTICITY BY AN AXISYMMETRICAL VORTEX IN A LINEARLY STRATIFIED FLUID - IN THE PASSIVE LIMIT, Physics of fluids, 8(10), 1996, pp. 2774-2776
We evaluate analytically the baroclinically generated vorticity that i
s produced by a stationary axisymmetric vortex that overturns a fluid
having an initial linear mean density profile. The instantaneous net p
roduction of vorticity due to a point vortex is shown to be proportion
al to the buoyancy time Nt, where N is the Brunt-Vaisala frequency. Th
ese results are valid only for the nondiffusive, passive limit, where
the baroclinically produced vorticity is negligible and does not alter
the velocity field. Corresponding results for the Taylor vortex show
maximum production of vorticity away from the center but zero net prod
uction. The Oseen vortex behaves more like the point vortex. These dif
ferences appear related to the total circulation of these vortices. (C
) 1996 American Institute of Physics.