Zonal flows and pattern formation

International audienceThe general aspects of zonal flow physics, their formation, damping and interplay with quasi two dimensional turbulence are explained in the context of magnetized plasmas and quasi-geostrophic fluids with an emphasis on formation and selection of spatial patterns. General features of zonal flows as they appear in planetary atmospheres, rotating convection experiments and fusion plasmas are reviewed. Detailed mechanisms for excitation and damping of zonal flows, and their effect on turbulence via shear decorrelation is discussed. Recent results on nonlocality and staircase formation are outlined