Turbulence | 14 Dec 2023

Turbulence, often encountered in everyday phenomena like flowing fluids, holds a profound level of organization that scientists are still striving to understand.

• Turbulence is a complex fluid motion characterized by chaotic fluctuations, unpredictable variations, and the formation of swirling patterns called vortices.
• The balance between fluid inertia (fluid's tendency to keep moving) and viscosity (motion-slowing force) determines whether a flow is laminar (well-ordered) or turbulent (highly unstable).
  • When inertia dominates, turbulence emerges.
• Applications of Turbulence:
  • Meteorological models leverage turbulence studies for more accurate short-term weather predictions, essential for disaster preparedness.
  • Studying turbulence helps assess the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere, influencing environmental policies.