The anisotropy of local turbulence in the Earth's core

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  • Matsushima Masaki
    Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology
  • Nakajima Takahiro
    Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute
  • Roberts Paul H.
    Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California

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  • The anisotropy of local turbulence in Earth's core
  • anisotropy of local turbulence in Earths core

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Abstract

The anisotropy of local turbulence in the Earth's core is examined. It is recognized that small-scale motions in the core are strongly influenced by the Earth's rotation and its magnetic field. A small region of the core is simulated (the computational box), across which the prevailing large-scale (toroidal) magnetic field is supposed to be uniform and in which the temperature or compositional gradient providing the buoyancy that powers the turbulence is parallel to the (uniform) gravitational field. The simulations are used to estimate the turbulent fluxes of mean fields and their dependence on the latitude at which the computational box is situated. It is found that the effect of local turbulence on the diffusion of large-scale fields is significant, and that turbulent transport is anisotropic. It is believed that the results of the present study will prove useful in determining geophysically realistic diffusivities for use in future global geodynamo simulations.

Journal

  • Earth, Planets and Space

    Earth, Planets and Space 51 (4), 277-286, 1999

    Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, The Seismological Society of Japan, The Volcanological Society of Japan , The Geodetic Society of Japan , The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences

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