By studying the shape dynamics of three-particle clusters, we investigate the statistical geometry of a spatiotemporally chaotic experimental quasi-two-dimensional flow. We show that when shape and size are appropriately decoupled, these Lagrangian triangles assume statistically stationary shape distributions that depend on the flow scale, with smaller scales favoring more distorted triangles. These preferred shapes are not due to trapping by Eulerian flow structures. Since our flow does not have developed turbulent cascades, our results suggest that more careful work is required to understand the specific effects of turbulence on the advection of Lagrangian clusters.

• Received 25 March 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.254501