2014/03/07 by Yufeng Lin, Lin, Yufeng, Jérõme Noir +4
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #physics.flu-dyn
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1403.1702
arxiv created 2014/03/07 · openalex publication_date 2014/03/07 · arxiv updated 2014/03/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We numerically study the inertial waves and zonal flows in spherical shells driven by longitudinal libration, an oscillatory variation of rotation rate. Internal shear layers are generated due to breakdown of the Ekman boundary layer at critical latitudes. Our numerical results validate the scaling laws of internal shear layers predicted by previous studies. Mean zonal flows are driven by the non-linear interaction in the boundary layers. Non-linear interaction of inertial waves in the interior fluids has no significant contribution to the zonal flow. Multiple geostrophic shear layers are generated due to non-linearities in the boundary layers at critical latitudes and reflection points of internal shear layers. We also investigate the scaling laws of geostrophic shear layers and extrapolate the results to the planetary setting.