Article Type:
Research Article

A New Scaling for Tornado-Like Vortices

David S. Nolan Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida

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Print Publication:
01 Jul 2005
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3461.1
Page(s):
2639–2645
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Abstract

A new approach is presented for the nondimensionalization of the Navier–Stokes equations for tornado-like vortices. This scaling is based on the results of recent numerical simulations and physical reasoning. The method clarifies and unifies the results of numerous earlier studies that used numerical simulations of axisymmetric incompressible flow to study tornadoes. Some examples are presented.

Corresponding author address: Prof. David S. Nolan, RSMAS/MPO, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149. Email: dnolan@rsmas.miami.edu

Abstract

A new approach is presented for the nondimensionalization of the Navier–Stokes equations for tornado-like vortices. This scaling is based on the results of recent numerical simulations and physical reasoning. The method clarifies and unifies the results of numerous earlier studies that used numerical simulations of axisymmetric incompressible flow to study tornadoes. Some examples are presented.

Corresponding author address: Prof. David S. Nolan, RSMAS/MPO, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149. Email: dnolan@rsmas.miami.edu

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