Antoine Venaille


CNRS researcher,  Laboratoire de Physique
Address ENS de Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie 69007,  Lyon France
Phone 0033  - 04 26 23 39 45
Office
M1 018, site Modod
E-mail antoine.venaille at ens-lyon dot fr


My work is motivated by geophysical flows. With colleagues, I apply nonlinear physics, statistical mechanics ideas, and tools from topology to planetary scale dynamics.

    Publications

2023, X. Chartrand, L.P. Nadeau, A. Venaille. Recovering Quasi-Biennial Oscilliations from Chaos- submitted  .pdf
Shows that increased vertical wave propagation at higher altitudes promotes the periodicity of wind reversals in the equatorial stratosphere. This highlights the role of internal gravity waves in supporting QBO's periodic behavior.
2023, L. Miller, B. Deremble, A. Venaille. Gyre Turbulence- submitted  .pdf
Reports finite dissipation rate in a two-dimensional wind-driven ocean model in the limit of weak dissipation. The flow is a turbulent vortex gas superimposed to a western-intensified gyre. 
2023, A. Venaille, Y. Onuki, N. Perez, A. Leclerc. From ray tracing to topological waves in continuous media - SciPost Physics  .pdf
Shows the physical origin of bulk-interface correspondence that relates a topological index to a spectral index, by using ray tracing equations and Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization rule.
2022, A. Leclerc, G. Laibe,  P. Delplace, A. Venaille, N. Perez. Topological modes in stellar oscillations - The Astrophysical Journal .pdf
 
Interprets the f-mode of stellar pulsations as an hybrid mode between topological Lamb-like waves and surface waves. Its topological origin results from a competition between curvature effects and gravity.
2022, T. David, P. Delplace, A. Venaille. How do CPT-symmetries shape the stability of geophysical flows?- Physics of Fluids  .pdf
 
Provides a general framework to address the role of discrete symmetries in non-Hermitian geophysical wave operators, with application to baroclinity instability describing midlatitude weather systems. 
2022, N. Perez, P. Delplace, A. Venaille. Unidirectional modes induced by nontraditional Coriolis force in stratified fluids- Physical Review Letters  .pdf
New trapped modes supported by compressible rotating stratified flows are found using tools from topology. This shows a striking manifestion of nontraditional Coriolis effects.
2021, A. Venaille, P. Delplace. Wave topology brought to the coast- Physical Review Research  .pdf
Coastal Kelvin waves were arguably the first unidirectional trapped modes found in a physical system. We show the topological origin of these modes, by highlighting the central role of bottom topography variations.
2021, N. Perez , P. Delplace, A. Venaille. Manifestation of Berry curvature in geophysical ray tracing- Proceedings of the Royal Society A  .pdf
Shows that Berry curvature induces weak bending of shallow water wavepackets in the presence of planetary vorticity gradients. This leads to a systematic drift in equatorial ray tracing, an effect analogous to anomalous Hall effect.
2020, P. Delplace, A. Venaille. From the geometry of Foucault's pendulum to topological planetary waves- Comptes Rendus Physique (CRAS) .pdf
Featured in Nature Physics by M. Buchanan
Short review on topological waves in astrophysical and geophysical flows, with emphasis on the consequences of planet rotation and sphericity that can be understood with geometrical tools such as the Berry phase and the Berry curvature.
2020, A. Renaud, A. Venaille. On Holton-Lindzen-Plumb model for mean flow reversals in stratified fluids-  Quaterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society  .pdf
Starting from Boussinesq equations, we discuss the existence of a distinguished limit for the derivation of a celebrated 1D idealized model for Quasi-biennial oscillations of equatorial winds.  
2020, A. Venaille. Quasi-geostrophy against the wall- Journal of Fluid Mechanics - Rapids .pdf
Coasts are obstructions to the classical derivation of stratified quasi-geostrophic equations, due to the propagation of Kelvin waves trapped along the boundary. Revisits a coupled model proposed by Deremble-Johnson-Dewar to describe cyclone formation by Kelvin wave shocks.
2020, C. Tauber, P. Delplace, A. Venaille. Anomalous bulk-edge correspondence in continuous media - Physical Review Research.pdf  Editors' suggestion
Shows that the number of chiral edge states filling a frequency gap is generally not topologically protected in continuous systems with a sharp boundary, but that a bulk-edge correspondence is recovered when ghost modes hidden in the asymptotic part of the spectrum are taken into account.
2019, C. Tauber, P. Delplace, A. Venaille. A bulk-interface correspondence for equatorial waves - Journal of Fluid Mechanics - Rapids .pdf
Shows that a topological index can be assigned to a given hemisphere for shallow water flows in the presence of odd viscous terms, and discusses consequences for equatorial waves. 
2019, M. Perrot, P. Delplace, A. Venaille. Topological transition in stratified fluids - Nature Physics .pdf  featured as News and Views by T. Dowling
Relates the existence of atmospheric Lamb waves to peculiar topological properties carried by acoustic and internal gravity waves when mirror symmetry in vertical direction is broken by gravity and density stratification.
2019, P. Delplace, A. Venaille. De la topologie dans les ondes équatoriales-La Gazette des Mathématiques .pdf
Review on topological waves in geophysical fluid dynamics, making a connection with the longstanding problem of tides (in french). 
2019, A. Renaud, L.-P. Nadeau, A. Venaille. Periodicity disruption of a model quasi-biennial oscillation of equatorial winds - Physical Review Letter .pdf  , featured in Physics
Shows the existence of a quasi-periodic route to chaos in idealized models of equatorial atmospheres, and investigates the response to external perturbations, motivated by an odd recent evolution of the QBO.
2018, A. Renaud, A. Venaille. Boundary streaming by internal waves   - Journal of Fluid Mechanics .pdf
Investigates mean-flow generation by damped internal gravity waves close to an undulating boundary.
2018, T. Dauxois, S. Joubaud, P. Odier, A. Venaille. Instabilities of internal wave beams -  Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics 2018 .pdf
Reviews the peculiar effects of non-linearities on internal wave beams, including streaming and triadic resonant instability.
2017, P. Delplace, J.B. Marston, A. Venaille. Topological origin of equatorial waves - Science .pdf featured in Physicsworld by P. Bal, communiqué CNRS
Shallow water waves present topological singularities as a consequence of Earth rotation  breaking time-reversal symmetry. This can be related to the emergence of two unidirectional trapped modes along the equator, the celebrated Kelvin and Yanai waves.
2017, Y. Yasuda, F. Bouchet, A. Venaille. A new Interpretation of vortex-split stratospheric sudden warmings in terms of equilibrium statistical mechanics - Journal of the Atmospheric Science .pdf
 Spontaneous splitting of the polar vortex as an abrupt transition from a quasi-stationary cyclonic state to an anticyclonic equilibrium state when an effective topography is varied.
2016, A. Venaille, L. Gostiaux, J. Sommeria. A statistical mechanics approach to mixing in stratified fluids - Journal of Fluid Mechanics   .pdf
Uses statistical mechanics to predict how much mixing occurs when a given amount of energy is injected into a stratified fluid.
2016, A. Renaud, A. Venaille, F. Bouchet. Equilibrium statistical mechanics and energy partition for the shallow water model - Journal of Statistical Physics  .pdf
Full computation of statistical equilibrium states of the shallow water model using large deviation theory. Predicts the concommitant emergence of a large scale vortical flow and energy loss towards small scales on the form of inertia-gravity waves.
2015, A. Venaille, T. Dauxois, S. Ruffo. Violent relaxation in two-dimensional flows with varying interactions - Physical Review E - Rapid Communication  .pdf
Shows that the range of interaction between fluid particles plays a crucial role in selecting the large scale flow topology during the relaxation of an unstable initial state towards equilibrium.
2014, A. Venaille, L.-P. Nadeau, G. K. Vallis. Ribbon turbulence -  Physics of Fluids.pdf Research Highlights
Ribbons are surface intensified jets in the large bottom friction limit of geostrophic turbulence. Their dynamics results from a competition between baroclinic instability and the relaxation toward an equilibrium state.
Movies:  weak friction   intermediate friction   large friction
2012, G. Bordes, A. Venaille, S. Joubaud, P. Odier, T. Dauxois. Experimental observation of strong mean flows generated by internal gravity waves - Physics of Fluids   .pdf
Shows that a monochromatic wave beam propagating in a stratified viscous fluid induces a robust and strong jet flowing outward the wave generator.
2012, A. Venaille. Bottom-trapped currents as statistical equilibrium states above topography anomalies - Journal of Fluid Mechanics - Rapids  .pdf
Shows that in presence of a sufficiently large topographic bump, an initial surface-intensified random velocity field evolves towards a bottom-trapped anticyclonic mean flow.
2012, A. Venaille, G. K. Vallis, S.M. Griffies. The catalytic role of beta effect in barotropization processes - Journal of Fluid Mechanics  .pdf
Shows that the presence of planetary vorticity gradients favors the tendency to spread the energy on the vertical in stratified quasi-geostrophic turbulent flows, and that statistical mechanics arguments account for this phenomenon.
2012, F. Bouchet, A. Venaille. Statistical mechanics of  two-dimensional and geophysical flows  - Physics Reports  .pdf 
Review paper with emphasis on Robert-Sommeria-Miller equilibrium theory. Former statistical approaches are also discussed, as well as current developments in out of equilibrium context.
2011, A. Venaille, G.K. Vallis, K.S. Smith. Baroclinic turbulence in the ocean: analysis with primitive equation and quasi-geostrophic simulations - Journal of Physical Oceanography  .pdf 
Tests the hypothesis that oceanic eddies result from local baroclinic instabilities, and examines the factors determining their distribution, length scale, magnitude and structure.
2011, A. Venaille, J. Le Sommer, J.-M. Molines, B. Barnier. Stochastic variability of large scale oceanic flows above topography anomalies - Geophysical Research Letters  .pdf , communiqué CNRS
A stochastic mechanism is proposed to interpret the dynamics of eddy-driven recirculations above closed contours of bottom topography. This may account for the observed low frequency variability of the Zapiola anticyclone.
2011, A. Venaille, F. Bouchet. Oceanic rings and jets as statistical equilibrium states  - Journal of Physical Oceanography  .pdf  
Using statistical mechanics arguments, oceanic rings are interpreted as "bubbles" of homogenized potential vorticity. It may provide an explanation for their ubiquity, their shape, and their drift.
2011, A. Venaille, F. Bouchet. Solvable phase diagrams and ensemble inequivalence for two-dimensional and geophysical turbulent flows - Journal of Statistical Physics .pdf 
Companion paper of PRL09 below. Discusses symmetry breaking associated with the generic occurrence of ensemble inequivalence, and the surprising effect of the Rossby radius of deformation (a screening length scale).
2009, A. Venaille, F. Bouchet. Statistical Ensemble Inequivalence and Bicritical Points for Two-Dimensional Flows and Geophysical Flows - Physical Review Letters  .pdf
It is shown that statistical ensemble inequivalence and negative specific heat occur for a wide class of models and parameters, including Fofonoff flows, and are related to previously observed phase transitions in the flow topology. 
2008, A. Venaille, J. Sommeria. Is mixing a self-convolution process ?  - Physical Review Letters  .pdf
Experimental tests of the self-convolution model for mixing of a passive tracer. It is shown that the model is doing well at sufficiently late stage of mixing. 
2007, A. Venaille, J. Sommeria. A dynamical equation for the distribution of a scalar advected by turbulence. - Physics of Fluids .pdf
Provides phenomenological arguments showing that the mixing of a passive tracer through turbulent cascades may be represented as a succession of self-convolutions of the tracer distribution.
2005, A. Venaille, P. Varona, M.I. Rabinovich.  Synchronization and coordination of sequences in two neural ensembles - Physical Review E   .pdf
Synchronization properties emerging from the coupling of two chaotic systems are investigated. This illustrates how a mollusk can scan randomly an area to find a prey, while keeping some efficiency in swimming. 


    Conference proceedings, book chapters and book edition

2020, A. Venaille, F. Bouchet, T. Schneider, C. Salomon (Editors). Fundamental aspects of turbulent flows in climate dynamics - Les Houches 2017, Session CIX, OUP
2016, F. Bouchet, A. Venaille. Zonal flows as statistical equilibria- in Zonal Jets, Editor B. Galperin, P. Read, CUP  .pdf
2012, F. Bouchet, A. Venaille. Application of equilibrium statistical mechanics to atmospheres and oceans  - Peyresq lectures Volume 3 .pdf
2012, A. Venaille, F. Bouchet. Are rings and jets statistical equilibrium states? - Journal of Physics: Conference Series, ETC13 .pdf
2010, A. Venaille, J. Sommeria, 2010.  Modeling mixing in two-dimensional turbulence and stratified fluidsIUTAM symposium on Turbulence in the Atmosphere and Oceans, Editor D. Dritschel .pdf
2008, F. Bouchet, J. Barré, A. Venaille. Equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium phase transitions in systems with long range interactions and in 2D flows AIP conference proceedings (Assisi 07) .pdf
2007, A. Venaille., J. Sommeria.  Modeling mixing in two-dimensional turbulence and stratified fluidsCFM 07 .pdf

    Co-organization of Scientific Events

2022 Mini-school and workshop on climate sensitivity
Lyon, 16-28 Oct, with F. Bouchet, A.-L. Fougères, C. Herbert, L. Saint-Raymond
2019-now Groupe de travail MathsInFluids
Lyon/Grenoble/Chambery, with D. Bresch, C. Lacave, L. Saint-Raymond
2019 Physics at the Equator: from the lab to the stars,
Lyon, 16-28 Oct, with C. Herbert
2017 Interdisciplinary workshop on topological phenomena,
Lyon, 8-10 Nov, with A. Amo, M. Bellec and P. Delplace
2017 Summer school on fundamental aspects of turbulent flows in climate dynamics
Ecole de Physique des Houche, August, with F. Bouchet and T. Schneider
2015 NewWawe: new challenges in internal wave dynamics,
Lyon, 14-16 Oct, with L. Gostiaux and C. Muller
2013 Geoturb: numerical modeling and theoretical challenges in atmosphere and ocean turbulence
Lyon, 2-4 Oct, with  F. Bouchet

   Lectures in summer schools

-Three lectures on waves of topological origin in geophysical flows, Boulder summer school 2022 (lecture 1, lecture 2, lecture 3, notes) and Nordita winter school 2023 (lectures)

- Introduction to geophysical flows, Summer school Institut Fourier Grenoble 2023 (rotation, curvature, stratification, slides, notes in progres)

    Previously

2017
HDR: waves, symetries and invariants in geophysical flows
2012-now CNRS, Laboratoire de physique, ENS-Lyon,  
2011-2012 Post-doc,  Laboratoire de physique, ENS-Lyon. with T. Dauxois and S. Ruffo
2009-2011
Post-doc at Princeton University, GFDL-AOS  with G. Vallis 
2005-2008
PhD Thesis at LEGI  Grenoble, with J. Sommeria, and INLN Nice, with F. Bouchet
2002-2006
ENS-Lyon, Physics

Last change: June 2023