Inertial Ranges in Two‐Dimensional Turbulence

TLDR: In this paper, it was shown that two-dimensional turbulence has both kinetic energy and mean square vorticity as inviscid constants of motion, and two formal inertial ranges, E(k)∼e2/3k−5/3/3, where e is the rate of cascade of kinetic energy per unit mass, η is the time taken to reach a cascade of mean square velocity, and k is the kinetic energy of the entire mass.

Abstract: Two‐dimensional turbulence has both kinetic energy and mean‐square vorticity as inviscid constants of motion. Consequently it admits two formal inertial ranges, E(k)∼e2/3k−5/3 and E(k)∼η2/3k−3, where e is the rate of cascade of kinetic energy per unit mass, η is the rate of cascade of mean‐square vorticity, and the kinetic energy per unit mass is ∫0∞E(k) dk. The −53 range is found to entail backward energy cascade, from higher to lower wavenumbers k, together with zero‐vorticity flow. The −3 range gives an upward vorticity flow and zero‐energy flow. The paradox in these results is resolved by the irreducibly triangular nature of the elementary wavenumber interactions. The formal −3 range gives a nonlocal cascade and consequently must be modified by logarithmic factors. If energy is fed in at a constant rate to a band of wavenumbers ∼ki and the Reynolds number is large, it is conjectured that a quasi‐steady‐state results with a −53 range for k « ki and a −3 range for k » ki, up to the viscous cutoff. The t...