Multiscale Distribution of Energy Transfer in Two Dimensional Turbulence

In two dimensional turbulence, the mechanisms responsible for energy transfer to larger scales are not well understood. We present results from an experimental system consisting of a square meter of electromagnetically driven thin salt water layer that is used to investigate this inverse energy cascade. A filter technique applied to high resolution velocity fields is used to understand scale to scale energy transfer. An extension of this technique determines the contribution of energy transfer across a given length scale from smaller scales. Expanding the subgrid coupling terms allows for some speculation of the energy transfer mechanisms.