Lack of self-similarity in transverse velocity increments and circulation statistics in two-dimensional turbulence

This numerical study on two-dimensional (2D) turbulence reveals that transverse structure functions in the inverse energy cascade display anomalous scaling properties, differing from the self-similar behavior of longitudinal ones. Using direct numerical simulations of incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, this study shows a link between the scaling exponents of transverse structure functions and velocity circulation moments. These findings provide new insights into the dynamics of 2D turbulence, with implications for understanding geophysical flows.