'Weather in a tank' demonstration helps students grasp fluid dynamics
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 07:02
in Astronomy & Space
Fluid dynamics plays a central role in determining Earths climate. Ocean currents and eddies stir up contents from the deep, while atmospheric winds and weather systems steer temperature and moisture around the globe. As the planet spins on its axis, this rotation can significantly affect fluid motion. To fully understand how climate works, researchers at MIT say students must first understand how Earths rotation affects winds and currents. Rotating fluids are not intuitive, says Lodovica Illari, a meteorologist and senior lecturer in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).