Relative Diffusion of Constant-Level Balloons in the Southern Hemisphere

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Abstract
The TWERLE balloon tracers are analyzed for relative dispersion in the 150 mb level of the Southern Hemisphere and scales of 50–10 000 km. A two-particle time scale is introduced and is defined as the time integral of the relative-velocity correlation. This time scale is a function of both the initial relative distance between the pair of balloons and the Lagrangian integral length scale. Analysis of the relative-displacement data reveals an exponential growth region for short times after the release of the balloons and a t3 region for larger times (but smaller than the two-particle time scale). The exponential region can be considered as a manifestation of relative dispersion in an enstrophy cascade range while a t3 region indicates relative dispersion in a backward energy transfer region. Typical probability distribution functions of the relative displacement exhibit large kurtosis values. This can be regarded as a confirmation on the existence of a mixed local/nonlocal straining mechanism whic... Abstract The TWERLE balloon tracers are analyzed for relative dispersion in the 150 mb level of the Southern Hemisphere and scales of 50–10 000 km. A two-particle time scale is introduced and is defined as the time integral of the relative-velocity correlation. This time scale is a function of both the initial relative distance between the pair of balloons and the Lagrangian integral length scale. Analysis of the relative-displacement data reveals an exponential growth region for short times after the release of the balloons and a t3 region for larger times (but smaller than the two-particle time scale). The exponential region can be considered as a manifestation of relative dispersion in an enstrophy cascade range while a t3 region indicates relative dispersion in a backward energy transfer region. Typical probability distribution functions of the relative displacement exhibit large kurtosis values. This can be regarded as a confirmation on the existence of a mixed local/nonlocal straining mechanism whic...

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