Simultaneous measurements of velocity, oxygen concentration, and deformed interface position in an air–water channel using PIV and LIF

Oxygen transfer across a deforming air–water interface is studied using a synergy of particle image velocimetry and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Such approaches have previously been limited to flat interfaces. We develop simultaneous measurements of velocity fields, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration fields, and interface positions for spatial and temporal tracking. The imaging process begins after the DO in the water has been chemically depleted and continues until the water is saturated with DO. The oxygen LIF intensity field is calibrated using measurements from an optical oxygen probe to ensure accurate conversion into physical unit (mg/L). A canonical air turbulent channel flow, with a centerline velocity of 6.6 m/s (Reynolds number based on channel height of 21,700), develops for more than 100 heights before the bottom boundary condition is changed from a solid wall to a water surface. This induces transient and wavy structures on the air–water interface and generates velocity fluctuations and vorticity on the water side, which drives DO transport. The spatial evolution of DO concentration reveals steep gradients near the interface that diminish with depth, while the temporal evolution shows a reduction in concentration differences between the bulk and interface from about 35% to less than 5% as the water saturates. Concentration fluctuations are lower near the interface compared to the bulk and diminish in time as the system approaches saturation. Turbulent scalar transport analysis shows high vertical flux near the interface, and this too changes as the bulk DO concentration evolves, emphasizing that the observed phenomena are transient and should be treated as such.