Cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry in rotating thin fluid layers

TL;DR

This study investigates how vertical confinement influences the development of cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry in rotating turbulent flows through experiments and simulations, revealing that confinement delays asymmetry formation.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significant impact of vertical confinement on vortex formation and asymmetry development in rotating turbulence, combining experimental and numerical approaches.

Findings

Vertical confinement delays cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry development.

Experimental and numerical results show consistent effects of confinement.

Large-scale vortices are affected by domain height.

Abstract

We report of a series of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations of freely-decaying rotating turbulent flows confined in domains with variable height. We show that the vertical confinement has important effects on the formation of large-scale columnar vortices, the hallmark of rotating turbulence, and in particular delays the development of the cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry. We compare the experimental and numerical results face-to-face, showing the robustness of the results.