Langmuir circulation: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 06:18, 29 March 2024

Roll circulations approximately aligned with the surface stress vector that frequently occur in the upper boundary layer of oceans or lakes.

Although similar in form to atmospheric longitudinal roll vortices, Langmuir circulations are thought to be driven by nonlinear interactions between the surface gravity wave field and the larger-scale turbulent motions within the mixed layer. They are sometimes called windrows because they form lines of surface debris or bubbles in their surface convergence zones. Their spatial scale is related to the depth of the mixed layer and their characteristic velocity is on the order of 8u_*, where u_* is the friction velocity in water. As a result of this scaling, Langmuir circulations generally require surface winds of at least 8 m s^-1 in order to form.
See coherent structures, longitudinal rolls.
Leibovich, S. 1983. The form and dynamics of Langmuir circulations. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech.. 15. 391–427.

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+|Display title=Langmuir circulation
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+|Meaning=Roll circulations approximately aligned with the surface [[stress]] vector that  frequently occur in the upper [[boundary layer]] of oceans or lakes.
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+|Explanation=Although similar in form to atmospheric [[longitudinal roll vortices]], Langmuir circulations are  thought to be driven by [[nonlinear]] interactions between the [[surface gravity wave]] field and the  larger-scale turbulent motions within the [[mixed layer]]. They are sometimes called windrows because  they form lines of surface debris or bubbles in their surface [[convergence]] zones. Their spatial [[scale]]  is related to the depth of the mixed layer and their [[characteristic velocity]] is on the order of 8''u''<sub>&#x0002a;</sub>,  where ''u''<sub>&#x0002a;</sub> is the [[friction velocity]] in water. As a result of this scaling, Langmuir circulations generally  require surface winds of at least 8 m s<sup>-1</sup> in order to form. <br/>''See'' [[coherent structures]], [[longitudinal rolls|longitudinal  rolls]].<br/> Leibovich, S. 1983. The form and dynamics of Langmuir circulations. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech.. 15. 391&ndash;427.
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-== Langmuir circulation ==
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-<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">Roll circulations approximately aligned with the surface [[stress]] vector that  frequently occur in the upper [[boundary layer]] of oceans or lakes.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">Although similar in form to atmospheric [[longitudinal roll vortices]], Langmuir circulations are  thought to be driven by [[nonlinear]] interactions between the [[surface gravity wave]] field and the  larger-scale turbulent motions within the [[mixed layer]]. They are sometimes called windrows because  they form lines of surface debris or bubbles in their surface [[convergence]] zones. Their spatial [[scale]]  is related to the depth of the mixed layer and their [[characteristic velocity]] is on the order of 8''u''<sub>&#x0002a;</sub>,  where ''u''<sub>&#x0002a;</sub> is the [[friction velocity]] in water. As a result of this scaling, Langmuir circulations generally  require surface winds of at least 8 m s<sup>-1</sup> in order to form. <br/>''See'' [[coherent structures]], [[longitudinal rolls|longitudinal  rolls]].</div><br/> </div><div class="reference">Leibovich, S. 1983. The form and dynamics of Langmuir circulations. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech.. 15. 391&ndash;427. </div><br/>
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