Chaotic stirring in quasi-turbulent flows

Abstract

Transport in laminar flows is governed by chaotic stirring and striation in long thin filaments. In turbulent flows, isotropic mixing dominates and tracers behave like stochastic variables. In this paper, we investigate the quasi-turbulent, intermediate regime where both chaotic stirring and turbulent mixing coexist. In these flows, the most common in nature, aperiodic Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs) delineate particle transport and chaotic stirring. We review the recent developments in LCS theory and apply these techniques to measured surface currents in Monterey Bay, California. In the bay, LCSs can be used to optimize the release of drifting buoys or to minimize the impact of a coastal pollution source.