Abstract: Three dimensional large eddy simulation (LES) is performed in the investigation of stably stratified turbulence with a sharp thermal interface. Main results are focused on the turbulent characteristic scale, statistical properties, transport properties, and temporal and spatial evolution of the scalar field.Results show that the buoyancy scale increases first, and then goes to a certain constant value. The stronger the mean shear, the larger the buoyancy scale. The overturning scale increases with the flow, and the mean shear improves the overturning scale. The flatness factor of temperature departs from the Gaussian distribution in a fairly large region, and its statistical properties are clearly different from those of the velocity fluctuations in strong stratified cases. Turbulent mixing starts from small scale motions,and then extends to large scale motions.

Key words: stratified turbulence, turbulent mixing, turbulent transport, turbulence structure