Multiplicity of Flow Regimes in Thin Fluid Layers in Rotating Annular Channels

The possible existence of distinct regimes of barotropic circulation in closed annular channels at the same external parameters governing the flow dynamics is investigated both experimentally and numerically. Transitions between the regimes are realized by means of varying the value of the main parameter determining the velocity field energy (for example, the current controlling the Ampere force in the case of MHD generation of a velocity field) with subsequent reconstruction of the former parameter value. Depending on the channel rotation period or the configurations of magnet locations in the case of MHD generation or sources and sinks in numerical experiments the following results are possible. (1) The initial and final regimes differ quantitavely in the number of cyclonic or anticyclonic vortices generatted. (2) The number of vortex formations does not change but their localization in space, for example, the angular coordinates of their centers, varies. (3) After the change and reconstruction of the original value of the governing parameter the flow returns to the regime almost undistinguishable from the original regime. The flow patterns and the corresponding diagrams for laboratory experiments and numerical simulations based on shallow water equations are presented.