Research Article

Suction vortices and spiral breakdown in numerical simulations of tornado-like vortices

  1. Brian Fiedler*

Article first published online: 6 MAR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/asl.217

Issue

Atmospheric Science Letters

Atmospheric Science Letters

Volume 10, Issue 2, pages 109–114, April/June 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fiedler, B. (2009), Suction vortices and spiral breakdown in numerical simulations of tornado-like vortices. Atmosph. Sci. Lett., 10: 109–114. doi: 10.1002/asl.217

Author Information

  1. Professor of Meteorology, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072-7307, USA

*Professor of Meteorology, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072-7307, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 JUN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 6 MAR 2009
  3. Manuscript Revised: 29 JAN 2009
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 29 JAN 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 8 DEC 2008

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Keywords:

  • tornado;
  • numerical simulation

Abstract

Three-dimensional simulations of tornado-like vortices are presented. The simulations are from a numerical model of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, with a Reynolds number, based on scales of the entire recirculating updraft, of up to 4.0 × 104. In a companion axisymmetric model, the theory for the corner flow swirl ratio provides an excellent prediction of the results. For the three-dimensional nonaxisymmetric model, the corner flow swirl ratio is not easily applied a priori, but nonetheless provides a framework for identifying a consistent departure of the three-dimensional simulations from the axisymmetric simulations. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society

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