Title: On the difference between waves and turbulence in a stratified fluid
Description: What are the theoretical and experimental physical differences between waves and turbulence? The motivation behind this question is related to the practical problems associated with laser beam propagation and pollution transport in the atmosphere. Because turbulence causes mixing and waves do not, one must not regard turbulence as a field of random waves. The power density spectrum of velocity fluctuations, when taken along, cannot be used to distinguish between waves and turbulence. Its physical interpretation can differ radically depending upon which type of motion is involved. Two approaches are used here to differentiate theoretically and experimentally between waves and turbulence. The first involves the degree of interaction between modes. The second approach depends on the mixing property of turbulence.
Subjects: Waves, Turbulence, Atmospheric turbulence, Fluid dynamics