Internal gravity waves in the energy and flux budget turbulence-closure theory for shear-free stably stratified flows

Abstract: We have advanced the energy and flux budget (EFB) turbulence closure theory that takes into account a two-way coupling between internal gravity waves (IGW) and the shear-free stably stratified turbulence. This theory is based on the budget equation for the total (kinetic plus potential) energy of IGW, the budget equations for the kinetic and potential energies of fluid turbulence, and turbulent fluxes of potential temperature for waves and fluid flow. The waves emitted at a certain level, propagate upward, and the losses of wave energy cause the production of turbulence energy. We demonstrate that due to the nonlinear effects more intensive waves produce more strong turbulence, and this, in turns, results in strong damping of IGW. As a result, the penetration length of more intensive waves is shorter than that of less intensive IGW. The anisotropy of the turbulence produced by less intensive IGW is stronger than that caused by more intensive waves. The low amplitude IGW produce turbulence consisting up to 90 \% of turbulent potential energy. This resembles the properties of the observed high altitude tropospheric strongly anisotropic (nearly two-dimensional) turbulence.