Scaling laws for layer formation in stably-stratified turbulent flows

Experiments have demonstrated that the stirring of a stably-stratified fluid sometimes generates a series of layers of nearly constant density separated by steep density gradients. In this paper, mixing length arguments based on the Kolmogorov picture of turbulence are used to suggest scalings for the layer sizes, gradients, and buoyancy fluxes in the limit of strong turbulence. Experimentally observed layer sizes are consistent with the proposed scaling law. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-6631(00)01003-5].