| Experimental results--both dynamic and heat transfer--of strongly anisotropic turbulent MHD flows are presented and compared with theory and observations of large scale oceanic and atmospheric flows. An inquiry is carried out to ascertain whether it may be possible that an analogous mechanism exists for the appearance and propagation of high energy, mesoscale cyclonic eddies in certain oceanic flows and for low frequency, high intensity fluctuations in MHD turbulent flows with continuous forcing within a small band of wavenumbers. The former is characterized by geostrophic flow where the forces of buoyancy stratification can attenuate the vertical turbulence and horizontal pressure gradient is balanced by Coriolis forces; the latter by electromotive forces suppressing the dynamic gradients in the fields own direction and the ensuing two-dimensional turbulent dynamics. Evidence for dynamic similarity between these two systems includes kinetic energy spectra, which may demonstrate an inverse cascade of energy; the enhanced eddy diffusivity of passive scalar fields across the plane of two dimensionality; and a 'negative' eddy diffusivity of momentum. |
