The Meteorological Development of Large Eddy Simulation

Abstract

The development of what is now called large eddy simulation is traced from the early days of numerical weather prediction to Smagorinsky’s 1963 introduction of a first order subgrid scale closure, Lilly’s analysis of the technique and utilization in 2-dimensional simulations of convection, and Deardorff’s further development and exploitation through 3-dimensional simulations of boundary layer flows. Smagorinsky’s closure was originally based on an empirical smoothing device developed by von Neumann and Richtmyer for 1-dimensional shock wave calculations, extended to 2- and 3-dimensional flow by Charney and Phillips. In a series of papers from 1972–80, Deardorff largely developed and defined large eddy simulation, though not under that name. His work was aimed at elucidating the structure and behaviour of turbulent boundary layers at high Reynolds and low Mach numbers, and was interpersed with a series of laboratory simulations and theoretical analyses. He introduced or initially applied several modeling concepts and techniques which have been followed, and in most cases are still utilized in some form, by investigators in geophysical and engineering fluid dynamics. The sequence, methods and results are reviewed and reconsidered.