Turbulence at the air-water interface : wave-turbulence interactions & gas transfer
In this talk, we will focus on how turbulence interacts with an air-water interface, with particular emphasis on wave-turbulence interactions and interfacial gas transfer. Using a state-of-the-art water channel that features an active turbulence-generating grid and a wavemaker, we are able to tailor both the wave field and the turbulence independently. This enables us to study the mutual interaction of waves and turbulence whereby it is found that turbulence scatters waves and waves enhance streamwise vorticity. Using the same facility, we are also able to investigate the role that turbulence plays in the interfacial gas transfer process. Specifically, we demonstrate that sub-surface turbulence can increase the rate of environmentally significant gas exchange (e.g., O₂, CO₂) across the air-water interface by up to 45%. The talk will also showcase recent advances in flow measurements, including the use of quantifiable laser-induced fluorescence to map O₂ concentration in an advecting water flow while simultaneously capturing the velocity field and surface topology.
Contact Nathanaël Machicoane for more information or to schedule a discussion with the seminar speaker.