Global linear stability of the boundary-layer flow over a rotating sphere

A. Barrow, Stephen Garrett, N. Peake

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We consider the linear global stability of the boundary-layer flow over a rotating sphere. Our results suggest that a self-excited linear global mode can exist when the sphere rotates sufficiently fast, with properties fixed by the flow at latitudes between approximately 55°–65° from the pole (depending on the rotation rate). A neutral curve for global linear instabilities is presented with critical Reynolds number consistent with existing experimentally measured values for the appearance of turbulence. The existence of an unstable linear global mode is in contrast to the literature on the rotating disk, where it is expected that nonlinearity is required to prompt the transition to turbulence. Despite both being susceptible to local absolute instabilities, we conclude that the transition mechanism for the rotating-sphere flow may be different to that for the rotating disk.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-307
JournalEuropean Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids
Volume49
Issue numberPart B
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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