Turbulent vortices in stratified fluids

In the present paper, calculations, made with the finite difference axisymmetric WAKE computer code, of the influence of turbulence and stratification on the behavior of vortex rings are compared with experimental data. Calculations, made with the two-dimensional version of the code, are used to study the behavior of vortex pairs in stably stratified atmospheres for a range of Froude numbers. Stratification is shown to have a profound effect on the radius of a vortex ring descending into a stably stratified fluid. The separation of the vortices of a vortex pair remains nearly constant or decreases monotonically with increasing penetration of a stably stratified fluid, depending on whether the stratification is discontinuous or linear. An analysis based on an energy balance is used to assess the maximum descent of a vortex pair in a stably stratified fluid.